GM..... here it comes

[vicb]

Please keep your fingers crossed for my family and the thousands of other GM related families next week as bankruptcy is declared. I honestly don't know how much more the state of MI can bare. The economy here is so bad.

We have a Feb. trip planned for WDW our first in almost 4 years, been saving but just haven't been able to bring myself to actually book the rooms. Maybe if DH can survive one more round of job cuts I can start to look forward. We've been waiting for the axe to drop since last Nov.

Hugs to those who have already lost their jobs!

 

[mjhd]

I hope everything turns out for you and your family! My grandparents are scared to death that they are going to lose their pension and all of their healthcare (like they haven't cut enough already!). They have started selling all of their stuff in preparation for moving into a much smaller house to be able to afford their medicine/doctors visits. It's a sad, sad time. Michigan totally sucks right now

 

[mandanjeremy]

I will definitely keep your family and the others in my prayers. It's so horrible that innocent families are the ones who suffer. I think alot of times most people forget that behind the bail/ no bailout debate that there are actual families involved who pay the price. I am so sorry for the stress you are going through, and I will keep you in my prayers

 

[vicb]

I will definitely keep your family and the others in my prayers. It's so horrible that innocent families are the ones who suffer. I think alot of times most people forget that behind the bail/ no bailout debate that there are actual families involved who pay the price. I am so sorry for the stress you are going through, and I will keep you in my prayers

Well said and thank you!

 

[CarolA]

I hope it all works out....

And it's not just MI. One of my former clients is based on N. Carolina but since GM, Chrysler etc isn't selling many cars they have had to lay off (they do OEM for car companies)

Plus there have been several dealers close near me!

 

[Dancemom03]

Our thoughts are with you. Praying every day that things turn around soon. DH is in the automotive field and Maryland has been hit pretty hard too as companies that manufacture for GM/Chrysler lay off or shut down too and cars stack up on the lots down by the port.

I've heard people smugly talk about the greed of the UAW and big automaker stereotypes suffering without realizing that the trickle down effect will eventually affect everyone - no matter where you live or what you do - as those auto industry jobs (and the jobs of so many millions more people who work for countless unrelated companies where those workers spent their paychecks) supported real people with families.

I can only hope that, as our perfectly good *by today's standards* vehicles fail the heightened emissions and other requirements being pushed down our throats within the next 7 years have to be removed from the road, I'll still be able to buy American when forced to spead our wealth in order to replace our truck & mini van. Gosh, I hate the new little gas efficient imported clown cars...

 

[dvcgirl]

Yes, add my good vibes and thoughts for you all to the list. It's really, really something. Amazing to me that this 100+ year old company is going to file BK on Monday.

No matter how you feel about situation, you absolutely have to feel for the families. I especially feel for those who have been with the company a long time...and for the retirees of course. It's just a shame to have been promised one bill of goods and then watch all of those good evaporate before your eyes.

Anyone who has a pension....and I do mean *anyone*....it's a real good idea to be saving outside your pension....

 

[friskykitten]

Good luck to you and your family. I can honestly say that I know what you might go through if he does lose his job. It will definately have a trickle down effect. This BK will affect everything in the economy cycle. The most devastating is to the individual families that are trying to survive once they lose their source of income. I hope it turns out that he keeps his job and will add your family to my prayers tonight!

 

[MermaidsMom]

Without the good paying jobs there will be no one to buy things....then everyone suffers. Good luck, I understand what your concerns are and share them.

 

[Handbag Lady]

We tried to help.

We bought a brand-new GM car at the end of the year.

My thoughts go to you and yours during this time.

 

[CarolA]

We tried to help.

We bought a brand-new GM car at the end of the year.

My thoughts go to you and yours during this time.

I bought one on March 31st!

(Well, considering what I paid for it I think I stole it, but....)

 

[Nik's Mom]

My heart breaks for everyone suffering right now. It's bad times for so many people. Hang in there, everyone. It will get better eventually.

 

[luvdzne]

My dad was with GM for 40+ years. He retired less than 2 years ago and is about to lose everything he work so hard for. It's simply unbelievable it's come to this. My heart goes out to those that will be in the same position as my father.

 

[runwad]

My dad was with GM for 40+ years. He retired less than 2 years ago and is about to lose everything he work so hard for. It's simply unbelievable it's come to this. My heart goes out to those that will be in the same position as my father.

Will you explain this to me? My FIL worked for Gm the same amount of time, and from what I understand as long as his pension is under 54K he won't be affected if it was more the guarantee pension fund would cover it up to the 54k is that right?

 

[polineedyan]

This may be misplaced aggression towards someone i know, but I dont really have a ton of sympathy here..My uncle retired recently and proceeded to take 3 hawaii trips, do a HUGE add on to a home he JUST bought..and now he's complaining about gm cutting back his health care and retirement, etc..people who are retired just dont spend their money in the way he did. So, i do feel some sympathy, but not a ton. I know what i make an hour for the amount of work i do, and in all honesty, I WISH TO GOD i couldve had such a cush job as many of you..

 

[Planogirl]

This may be misplaced aggression towards someone i know, but I dont really have a ton of sympathy here..My uncle retired recently and proceeded to take 3 hawaii trips, do a HUGE add on to a home he JUST bought..and now he's complaining about gm cutting back his health care and retirement, etc..people who are retired just dont spend their money in the way he did. So, i do feel some sympathy, but not a ton. I know what i make an hour for the amount of work i do, and in all honesty, I WISH TO GOD i couldve had such a cush job as many of you..

People are possibly facing NO income. You might think that they make a lot of money and should make less but losing a job is hard for everyone.

It can also be hard to lose income when you're used to receiving it. I am extremely underpaid in my job but I certainly don't begrudge people making decent money when they can.

To the OP, I will certainly keep the autoworkers in my thoughts. It's sad that so many innocent people are getting caught up in this mess.

 

[gk90]

Fingers crossed and good thoughts for all those hardworking people who are concerned for their futures.
As for aggression--the ones I'm really mad at are the CEOs with fat bonuses and walking away from failing companies with millions.

 

[MAH4546]

People are possibly facing NO income. You might think that they make a lot of money and should make less but losing a job is hard for everyone.

People in the automotive industry are facing no income because the unions have been able to get ridiculous demands for high wages.

The unions are at fault for their stupid demands of the 80's and 90's; the car companies are at fault for putting out horrendous products and for giving into union demands.

The good thing that will come out with this is an end to the greed.

It is very unfortunate that many innocent people are losing jobs, but the American car companies were running very inefficiently at labor costs that the market cannot bare.

I certainly have sympathy for the individuals who are going to have a rough road ahead of them due to cutbacks in the auto industry.

I have zero sympathy for the greedy union leaders who created this mess.

 

[CarolA]

This may be misplaced aggression towards someone i know, but I dont really have a ton of sympathy here..My uncle retired recently and proceeded to take 3 hawaii trips, do a HUGE add on to a home he JUST bought..and now he's complaining about gm cutting back his health care and retirement, etc..people who are retired just dont spend their money in the way he did. So, i do feel some sympathy, but not a ton. I know what i make an hour for the amount of work i do, and in all honesty, I WISH TO GOD i couldve had such a cush job as many of you..

They don't?

My mother has gone to Ireland, Jamica and Spain in the past 12 months! She however does not have GM pension or healthbenfits.

(She did however save a boat load of money while she was working so she could "play" now!)

Perhaps a little less "generalization" would be nice and a LOT less "judgement" would be nicer!

 

[Kriii]

It's useless to play the blame game here. People will suffer and my prayers go out to those most affected. All of us are affected in one way or another by this economy.