Friday a not so good day. After the initial thrill and excitement (and email to everyone I know) that we are getting an Aztek for me, we've begun to second-think the finances, and perhaps put the car purchase off to the summer. So the deposit is good until Tuesday night, which gives us more time to talk and think. So we'll see.
But worse--prepare yourself. Doug's former employer closed its doors with a BANG at 11:45am with an all-hands meeting announcement. The owner, Bob, had been trying to buy back the manufacturing plant for some time from his partners (Meridian) and it just wasn't happening. He decided to close up, move some of the current projects to the new company (where Doug works now) and say "sayonara" to the mess in Detroit. How absolutely horrible. Every single person there, from CAD designers, program managers, to sales and accounting, are out of work. Well, sales and accounting are employed for 2 more weeks to do all the closeups and transfers, THEN they're out of a job. The only three people still employed by Bob are Doug and his 2 coworkers. Scary. Feels like we dodged a bullet. Automotive is going down the sh&$%er, folks.
My parents-in-law are back from traveling the SW and something my mother-in-law said was interesting. We keep hearing on the news that we're out of recession, that jobs are growing and unemployment is going down, and MIL says that's very true from what they saw, everywhere else but Michigan. That's what comes from basing an economy totally on one product, and allowing unions too strong of a hold on said economy. I understand that people who have put their time into a company expect something in return based on hiring agreements, etc., but the damn pensions and health insurance and God knows what else is bleeding this state to death. Themselves and their generation may be set until they die, but the future of Michigan is bleak. Nobody new coming in, and existing large companies laying off or closing altogether.
A union worker was quoted in the paper a few months back as saying that he was being denied the "American Dream" by his automaker company. He explained what that American Dream was - a nice home, a vacation home up North, and a boat. Honest to God, he felt he was entitled to that. Disgusting.
So anyway... Monday will bring interesting things, as Doug is curious who from the old company (sales and accounting) may show up at the new company to finish things off. Only 4 more days until my break, too, thank goodness. Doug's grad class will be done a week from Tuesday, swimming is done Wednesday night, and we can get back to normal!
But worse--prepare yourself. Doug's former employer closed its doors with a BANG at 11:45am with an all-hands meeting announcement. The owner, Bob, had been trying to buy back the manufacturing plant for some time from his partners (Meridian) and it just wasn't happening. He decided to close up, move some of the current projects to the new company (where Doug works now) and say "sayonara" to the mess in Detroit. How absolutely horrible. Every single person there, from CAD designers, program managers, to sales and accounting, are out of work. Well, sales and accounting are employed for 2 more weeks to do all the closeups and transfers, THEN they're out of a job. The only three people still employed by Bob are Doug and his 2 coworkers. Scary. Feels like we dodged a bullet. Automotive is going down the sh&$%er, folks.
My parents-in-law are back from traveling the SW and something my mother-in-law said was interesting. We keep hearing on the news that we're out of recession, that jobs are growing and unemployment is going down, and MIL says that's very true from what they saw, everywhere else but Michigan. That's what comes from basing an economy totally on one product, and allowing unions too strong of a hold on said economy. I understand that people who have put their time into a company expect something in return based on hiring agreements, etc., but the damn pensions and health insurance and God knows what else is bleeding this state to death. Themselves and their generation may be set until they die, but the future of Michigan is bleak. Nobody new coming in, and existing large companies laying off or closing altogether.
A union worker was quoted in the paper a few months back as saying that he was being denied the "American Dream" by his automaker company. He explained what that American Dream was - a nice home, a vacation home up North, and a boat. Honest to God, he felt he was entitled to that. Disgusting.
So anyway... Monday will bring interesting things, as Doug is curious who from the old company (sales and accounting) may show up at the new company to finish things off. Only 4 more days until my break, too, thank goodness. Doug's grad class will be done a week from Tuesday, swimming is done Wednesday night, and we can get back to normal!
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