Any GM Employee's?

Well, we all knew it was coming, but I find the news of GM's bankruptcy a sad page in American history.

I don't want to talk about the politics of the issue and who was right or wrong, so please don't go there.

I am curious though if any TUGGERS are directly or indirectly affected by the announced plant closures/idle's? It appears that a large swath of communities across the country will be hit and hit hard.

If you or someone you know is going to be hurt by this, let them know there are lots of folks out here like me that empathize with them and wish them all the best.

I've worked in the car business for 25 years. I'm currently a manager at a used car store, but our company is flagshipped by a mid sized Chevy dealership. It's been stressful. I'll be OK, no sympathy requests; lord knows, we're car people. Many of us have made our own bed. Schadenfreude is sweet.

OTOH, the shock waves are going to go through the country, and they will be cold. Dealerships sponsor Little League teams. Your neighbors work there. They provide a measurable % of the tax base of many small communities.

We'll all make it; we're Americans, and surviving through hard times is what we do. But it will be tough. Immigrants to the US all praise the opportunity offered here, but they all complain about how cold and uncaring American society is compared to where they came from, the lack of family and community support. In the absence of opportunity, that lack of emotional support will make it hard for many people.

Mosca said:

I've worked in the car business for 25 years. I'm currently a manager at a used car store, but our company is flagshipped by a mid sized Chevy dealership. It's been stressful. I'll be OK, no sympathy requests; lord knows, we're car people. Many of us have made our own bed. Schadenfreude is sweet.

OTOH, the shock waves are going to go through the country, and they will be cold. Dealerships sponsor Little League teams. Your neighbors work there. They provide a measurable % of the tax base of many small communities.

We'll all make it; we're Americans, and surviving through hard times is what we do. But it will be tough. Immigrants to the US all praise the opportunity offered here, but they all complain about how cold and uncaring American society is compared to where they came from, the lack of family and community support. In the absence of opportunity, that lack of emotional support will make it hard for many people.

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This is an excellent response, and I am sure that many will make it.

But I am curious about the average guy or gal who has spent 20 years or so at a GM plant or a parts supplier in a semi-small community in the Midwest, where jobs aren't so plentiful for a person 40+ years old. How many people are out there like that? My guess is there are lots and lots of them. And the only trade or skill they know is having worked the line. It's these average folks I wonder about.

My husband accepted early retirement from GM on October 31 and is now an official retiree. If the PBGC has to take over their pension fund, he'll get about a 25% cut in benefits. But that hasn't been mentioned (yet) so we aren't worrying about that aspect (yet).

It really depresses him to watch it on the news. He has many, many friends there and feels terribly guilty because he "escaped" and they are still there, working in a less than stellar environment. I guess the stress is even worse than before. And this plant isn't even closing!

He once went to a co-worker's retirement party (at the plant), enjoyed the cake, laughed at all the jokes, and then watched the guest of honor collapse and die. He had a heart attack before he ever saw daylight as a retiree. This had quite an impact on my husband. Ironically, my husband retired 10/31 and had cancer surgery on 11/5. He's in remission now but events like this make you appreciate the little things all the more.

Anyway, I'm droning on. While we aren't impacted it does affect the mood in our house, and I overhear the phone conversations every evening. I feel so sorry for the people losing their jobs at the plants and dealerships. The potential trickle down of this is scary.

I was born and raised in Flint, MI. Used to be called Buick City. ALL businesses revolved around the auto industry. Everything from Nite Owl Coney Island places serving the greatest hotdogs to three shifts a day to places like AC Spark Plug, Fisher Body and tons more.

I left when I was 17 to enter the military and flee that type of life. Couldn't imagine myself working on an assembly line the rest of my life.

My family is all either retired or current GM employees. It's hard to put into words my actual feelings. I've hated GM for years for what they did to my hometown. They closed most of the factories down in Flint years ago and moved them to Mexico, Canada and elsewhere. Devastated the city and turned it basically into a ghost town.

Those are the memories of a 60 year old. I'm sure the younger generation has a different perspective because they were not around to see the good times. I hope they see better times soon. Gonna be hard with an unemployment rate over 15%. Good luck to all Michiganders.

My dad is a GM retiree. I know he is worried about what may happen to his pension. That's very stressful to a 79 year old, who worked for GM all his adult life. And that stresses me out!

It's a sad day when an American icon goes to an American has been.

My daughter and son-in-law work for GM. Both of them started with Saturn about 15 years ago. We moved to Spring Hill, TN to be close to them and our two grandsons. We were here less than a year and they both were tranferred to Detroit. We were heartbroken, but they had to go where the jobs were and with the Spring Hill Assembly Plant being put on the 'idle" list, they did the right thing especially in today's world. So far they have kept their jobs, time will tell.

riverdees05 said:

My daughter and son-in-law work for GM. Both of them started with Saturn about 15 years ago. We moved to Spring Hill, TN to be close to them and our two grandsons. We were here less than a year and they both were tranferred to Detroit. We were heartbroken, but they had to go where the jobs were and with the Spring Hill Assembly Plant being put on the 'idle" list, they did the right thing especially in today's world. So far they have kept their jobs, time will tell.

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As you are aware, Saturn is a brand that may be on the chopping block.

Politics aside, this is a sad day for a multitude of families.

All the best to you and the people of of Spring Hill and GM.

Just read 18,000 to 20,000 GM workers to be displaced...

How is it we can use words like "displaced" to refer to the unemployed?

This is just sad, sad, sad...

Have not one, but two sons that work in different parts of GM -- one is a manager in Colorado and one a 25 yr. mechanic for Cadillac in Southern California. I am keeping my prayers going and fingers crossed for both of them. So far their companies have not received any notices.

[Political statement deleted. As the OP requested, don't make this political.- DeniseM Moderator]

3 strikes and you are.....out....