Yesterday at work was JUST like it was on 9/11- Layoff notice.

[wartrace]

Yesterday the company announced the end to passenger tire production at our plant. It is also cutting back to half the production level in truck tires. This is a Bridgestone plant in LaVergne, TN. Of the 1500 people working there, 800 will be out of work by the end of March. These jobs were Union jobs paying from 20 to 25 dollars an hour, the staff jobs paid roughly the same. There will be no replacing this income for those who lose their jobs. Personally, I may or may not be employed there after March depending on whom they decide to cut. (I am staff)

It was very similar to the day the planes took down the world trade center. Everyone was walking around very sullen & in "shock" although we knew it was coming. I am estimating that 60 to 70% of these people will lose their homes. The union workers will receive "SUB" pay to supplement their unemployment checks for a while. The staff people will receive one weeks pay for each year of service.

The company can not continue to produce products that aren't selling.

The Nashville area is getting hit hard by plant closures & layoffs. In the past week local businesses have announced over 2000 job cuts of "middle class" jobs. There were probably three times that number laid off at other various companies in smaller numbers.

How can the economy recover with job cuts like these? Even if I am fortunate enough to have a job after March I am hesitant to spend ANY money on ANYTHING but essentials.

[PeaceNikki]

1. I'm sorry to hear that.

:(

Harley announced consolidation of plants this morning and that 1100 people will be laid off, too. That's about 12% of their workforce and it will be the production areas hit hardest. Decent paying, union, blue-collar jobs and another hard blow to Wisconsin.

Best of luck to you.

[wartrace]

2. I'll be Ok either way.

I have always been "conservative" with my money ever since a bad experience during the other Bush's residency. I bought a small affordable house a few years back which I have paid off, no other debts. I will be able to live on unemployment/minimum wage job if needed. What I am sad/worried about are my co-workers who were bitten by the "real estate" bug during the bubble years. I don't know how they will make those huge house payments.

[peacetalksforall]

3. And there is no overseas market? Tires don't fit? Trade barriers?

[Warpy]

7. Cars are a luxury overseas

and they're having their own economic hardships. People are walking and taking mass transit.

[wartrace]

8. Bridgestone is a global company.

They have plants all over the world, they are making cuts at other facilities. This recession/depression is worldwide, people are just not buying our tires.

[Winterblues]

4. But the brokers and bankers are getting their bailouts

I think the Democrats are being conned on this TARP deal because nothing is getting any better for the working people. The bankers are feeling good but not many others are.

[ljm2002]

10. You say, "I think the Democrats are being conned"...

...and I wish, oh how I wish I could believe you.

What I really think, though, is that the Democrats sold out their working class base a long, long time ago, and that we are seeing the end results of that sellout. They no longer support the working class as such, or the unions. They are embarrassed to be associated with the great unwashed (who never were unwashed, but that is how the rank and file have been portrayed, and the Democratic politicans by and large have bought into it). We are the rabble, and we couldn't possibly understand how the world works, and the wonderful intricacies of Capitalism -- only the elites can, and they will do what is best for all of us. Rrriiight...

We have been betrayed by the elites who rule us, and nothing will change until we rise up and take the power that belongs to us. Whether that takes the form of general strikes, mass walkouts, mass demonstrations, or what, I don't know. I would never advocate violent revolution -- violence really does beget more violence, and we still do have democratic structures that can in theory support our aspirations. We need to figure out how to wrest the reins of power from the DLC types, though, IMO. And it will take more than "working from within". It's really insidious, the way they rub their hands together and intone "We're on your side, really we are..."

Pffft. I wonder when the American people will wake up from our stupor and see how it really is, and dispense with the fighting amongst ourselves and start to demand our government stay true to its charter of existing to promote the general welfare of its citizens -- a Constitutional imperative that has long been dormant. Our government exists to protect the fat cats, period. And that is the source of the current crisis. Well, crisis is opportunity, and we need to take it. But it would require that we stop even thinking about one another as right or left, and start looking at the class issue. Yes, there, I said it. That is at the root of the crisis and the bulk of the world's problems today.

I don't "hate rich people". I take individuals as individuals. But the structures we have created have imperatives that foster war, and theft, and corruption. We need to change the structures. For example, corporate charters and the laws regarding corporations create one imperative only: maximize the return to the shareholders. The unwritten laws have another imperative: maximize the salaries and bonuses of the executives and boards of directors. Beyond that they have no other imperatives. We don't punish them for taking jobs offshore, for banking offshore and hiding profits, for moving HQ to sham offices offshore to evade taxes. What the hell?

Sorry had to rant.

[Warpy]

5. I'm sorry this has happened to you

but I know you'll be back at work down the line once excess inventory is gone. The problem is surviving in the meantime. Take what you can get if you can get it.

The big chill is hanging over everyone right now because every job out there is on the chopping block. Even "recession proof" health care jobs are dwindling as people without work related insurance put off getting health care until they're nearly dead.

The conservatives always do this to us, choke the demand side by low wages and high debt while they fatten the rich. Then they act astonished when it all falls down.

It happens every damned time they get in long enough.

[wartrace]

11. The silver lining of all this is it will be a LONG time before people forget.

They will look at ANYONE with an (R) after their name as "recession" rather than republican. Personally, I am going to be OK either way. I am in a paid for small house with no debt & only eight "dependents" but thankfully they all have four legs & a tail. Feeding them will be my only worry but I am considering raising rabbits for them to eat.

[Warpy]

13. "No debt" is going to be the key on surviving this

because a lot of people out there are starting to discover that paychecks can come and go, but that debt is always going to be there, sucking up money they don't have when they're hungry.

[navarth]

6. recommend. so sorry to hear that, bro.

It's getting tough all over. I guess I don't have to describe how things are up here in The Great Lakes State. My brother lives in sunny Florida and he's not doing all that well either.

Your job was a UNION job. Coincidence?

[wartrace]

9. My BIL worked for Delphi up in Saginaw.

He left last year. It seems as if only the "good" jobs are being cut.

[navarth]

12. We'll have to do something about that

tariffs, I think. Keep jobs here and bring back ones that were exported. Heavier taxes on companies that outsource.