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01/14/2009 09:18:58 PM · #51 |
Yes the recession has hit here. Construction is always hit hard in a recession, the first thing businesses do is stop building. We have some money saved, and we have purposely lived beneath our means so we can 'make' it with me being off. But for the fellow who thinks the media is creating this, NO they aren't. It is real, and the greed and lack of accountability in the financial industry created it. I doubt we will see a turnaround for at least a year, maybe longer.
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01/14/2009 09:36:44 PM · #52 |
It is getting bad around here with large companies laying off 100's and 100's of people or even worse in the case of General Motors closing down plants. Like Kirbic, I am in kind of a lucky position, I am going to be doing some promotional videos for a company that is involved in alternative energy, which hopefully will be the new direction of the Obama Admin. I will have steady work for quite awhile.
Ironworker should have plenty of work ahead also building wind farms I would imagine we will see alot of them over the next decade. |
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01/14/2009 09:38:40 PM · #53 |
i'll paint, you tape, then we just need a good screw and one of those newfangled wire swing things - and we're all set !
oh and a gun and some sort of high powered flame cutting thin-a-ma-jigs...
Originally posted by StrikeSlip:
I think there's some good brain-power in this thread. I'll bet that if we all put our heads together, we could come up with some awesome scheme, as in Ocean's Eleven. What do you say?
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01/14/2009 10:16:41 PM · #54 |
In spite of some reports, Dallas is getting hit hard. I've seen so many businesses go out of business in the past year...and many had been here for years! I am employed after getting laid off in 2006 and not having a job for almost 12 months. Large companies down here are laying off large numbers of people and shutting the doors. (Nortel is the latest.)
I work for a retail business (GREAT) and we are stable and poised to get through this as we have a good amount of cash, but they are very quietly letting people go and offering early retirement. We have a cafeteria for our very large facility (over 3000 employees) and the service provider had to cut back employees because those of us that are still employed had to cut back "eating out". We have the largest catalog business in the world and recently we closed a call center in California do to lack of inbound calls.
My husband is 100% commission and works in the automotive industry. (more GREAT) He decided to look at his paycheck stubs from last year and in the end of Oct., first pay period of November, he was down $1000 EACH CHECK! We were worried we would possibly have to sell our home and who knows what else. My hourly wage is not enough to cover most of the bills without help from my hubby. My sister's company just got sold and she is unemployed as of March. My middle sister got laid off many months ago, but can't get good work. There are enough rich people in Dallas to make it look like nothing is happening, but it is taking its toll on so many here. I know many people that have had to seriously change their habits. Weekends, you see much fewer people out and about and most I know don't go out to eat much now or shop unless it's a necessity.
To all of you that are laid off or are getting laid off, I wish you the very best of luck. Been there, done that and it's NOT a comfortable feeling. Especially in this era.
I wanna be in on your plan, Slippy...
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01/14/2009 10:49:47 PM · #55 |
beer
Message edited by author 2009-01-15 10:22:17.
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01/14/2009 10:50:58 PM · #56 |
beer
Message edited by author 2009-01-15 10:20:59.
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01/15/2009 12:39:16 AM · #57 |
Originally posted by soup:
i'll paint, you tape, then we just need a good screw and one of those newfangled wire swing things - and we're all set !
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Couldnt we all use one of them...............wait you dont mean what I think you mean, or do you!
Matt
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01/15/2009 12:55:21 AM · #58 |
My brother does sub-contracting work for Lowe's. He has seen a major drop in business in the past few months.
As far as what Hawkeye said, I have wondered something similar. I know the economy is bad, but I can't help but wonder if "those at the top" aren't using it to cut even more people than may be necessary.
For example, one manufacturer in our town, the paper mill, has not seen a "profit" (according to the local paper) since the late 1990's. NOW, they decide, because of the economy they are going to lay close to 150 guys off, and shut a couple of the machines down temporarily. So yea, the economy is to blame, but if they had managed better for the past 8 or 10 years, would they be fairing better now? And just as another puzzlement -- this same company is laying off these guys, yet preparing to hire 75 new employees in the next few weeks (they give a standardized test to make sure applicants can score a minimal [as in college level] score before interviewing, and the department I'm in at the community college helps to brush these guys/gals up on these skills).
I suppose I just have a general mistrust of corporate owners and politicians, but I can certainly see how hyping a bad economy could help make it worse, and benefit some of the wealthiest of the wealthy in the long run.
(/karmat wonders when she became so jaded and cynical?) |
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01/15/2009 01:22:52 AM · #59 |
Originally posted by karmat:
My brother does sub-contracting work for Lowe's. He has seen a major drop in business in the past few months.
As far as what Hawkeye said, I have wondered something similar. I know the economy is bad, but I can't help but wonder if "those at the top" aren't using it to cut even more people than may be necessary.
For example, one manufacturer in our town, the paper mill, has not seen a "profit" (according to the local paper) since the late 1990's. NOW, they decide, because of the economy they are going to lay close to 150 guys off, and shut a couple of the machines down temporarily. So yea, the economy is to blame, but if they had managed better for the past 8 or 10 years, would they be fairing better now? And just as another puzzlement -- this same company is laying off these guys, yet preparing to hire 75 new employees in the next few weeks (they give a standardized test to make sure applicants can score a minimal [as in college level] score before interviewing, and the department I'm in at the community college helps to brush these guys/gals up on these skills).
I suppose I just have a general mistrust of corporate owners and politicians, but I can certainly see how hyping a bad economy could help make it worse, and benefit some of the wealthiest of the wealthy in the long run.
(/karmat wonders when she became so jaded and cynical?) |
I expect that they plan to cut losses by laying off people who have been there a while, and have good pay and benefits in order to hire a new batch of recruits for much lower pay, and less benefits. The big sugar mill in a nearby town did the same thing a couple of years ago. It's corporate America at work : P
It's very tough here now too. My son Robert's welding business is all but shut down, and it was thriving a year ago. He gets about one day a week of work now on average. My work is going strong as ever, but I have one major customer who is getting into cash flow problems due to the market for fresh veggies being so low now. That is due to cold weather as much as the economy, but harvest season will be over before the market comes back strong enough for them to make a profit this year I am afraid.
My nephew's photography biz is going about as strong as ever, but now he does take a little time off in order to have a life outside the editing room and on locations to shoot.
I feel for those who have large percentages of their retirement funds tied up in the market, or big variable rate home loans, but not much can be done about that now.
I have slowed down a lot about buying things, and have been conserving whenever it's possible without causing us to have to do without.
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01/15/2009 06:00:52 AM · #60 |
So far so good for me. Best thing I ever did was to put 22 years into the US Army. I am now 42 and have a steady income for the reat of my life because of that. It isn't enough to pay my bills but it sure helps. I still work for the US Army on the civilian side in Germany. They just made our post an enduring one until at least 2025. So I know I will have a job until then and then can possibly retire from the civilian side too.
My wife however might not be so lucky. She is a German citizen but works as a contractor teaching on post. She was told that all contracts from her company will end in February. Luckily she was one of the few who got an extention until summer. She is trying to get her quilt shop off the ground now and you know how much money it is getting a new business started. She also does some freelance architeture drawings (she has a masters in Architecture but no companies, German or American are hiring).
I hope she can find something before her contract expires or I am afraid we won't be able to handle our bills. The economy sucks here in Germany too. |
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01/15/2009 10:52:47 AM · #61 |
Wow, and I thought some of you people from California and Texas were rich.
Well let̢۪s start an APG, Amateur Photographers Guild, or something.
With so many heads and talent, there can be great synergy. That̢۪s were the masses, the effort of the whole, is stonger then the individual, aka Team effort.
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01/15/2009 01:06:39 PM · #62 |
i guess it depends on how you read into it. no ? i mean how are we to hold/attach the newfangled wire swing things ?
i'd hate to fall a good distance while bearing a loaded gun - if you know what i mean...
Originally posted by MattO:
Originally posted by soup:
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i'll paint, you tape, then we just need a good screw and one of those newfangled wire swing things - and we're all set !
Couldnt we all use one of them...............wait you dont mean what I think you mean, or do you!
Matt |
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01/15/2009 01:08:30 PM · #63 |
umm - back to work - i guess. oh wait.... lunch time !
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01/16/2009 11:10:11 PM · #64 |
Yay...one day of work.
Low, low budget, Tier one union contract, rigging call.
I worked a 12 hour day today, 6 of it was waiting on equipment.
I'm glad I'm finally home.
We'll see about next week.
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01/16/2009 11:35:39 PM · #65 |
Update
Since I left and recently came back, my part time hours have been cut even more, the girls filled in for me while I was gone, now they don't want to scooch over and hand me back my extra hours - I don't blame them, but I need them. Need them bad.
I'm considering a change in careers.
But no one is hiring.
What to do |
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02/03/2009 03:50:29 PM · #66 |
| As of 9:15 this morning, I am officially an ex-banker. After twenty-two years, I am no longer needed. I am officially a Nobody now. |
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02/03/2009 04:15:43 PM · #67 |
Originally posted by Nobody:
As of 9:15 this morning, I am officially an ex-banker. After twenty-two years, I am no longer needed. I am officially a Nobody now. |
Sam - I am so sorry to hear the news as well as all the others that have lost jobs. It is hard right now and I'm afraid it's going to get harder for people to make a living. It's not fair! |
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02/04/2009 01:00:21 PM · #68 |
| Lots and lots of downsizing going on. Production schedules dropping drastically and impacting the workforce for a couple of years now. Most were old enough to retire, but with the portfolio hits nearly everyone took last year - many were less prepared than they planned to be. Close friends lost jobs and nothing available. Tough times in Michigan. Have been preparing for job loss. Anything is possible right now. |
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02/04/2009 02:34:53 PM · #69 |
Originally posted by Nobody:
As of 9:15 this morning, I am officially an ex-banker. After twenty-two years, I am no longer needed. I am officially a Nobody now. |
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02/04/2009 02:44:29 PM · #70 |
I've been out of work since April; The auto body shop I was working at didn't have enough work to support all of us. And the area I live in is mostly supported by the RV industry. I'm sure you can imagine how awesome that's doing at the moment. Between the RV plants and the Hummer plant, this area is crammed full of unemployed people.
Things have turned around for myself and my bf, though; He got a new job (oddly enough) that is paying way more than his old one (he's in IT), and I may have a gig lined up playing bass at a local jazz club. So things aren't so terrible for us personally. My heart really goes out to the people who aren't so lucky though. :( Its rough out there. |
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02/04/2009 02:55:58 PM · #71 |
Originally posted by Nobody:
As of 9:15 this morning, I am officially an ex-banker. After twenty-two years, I am no longer needed. I am officially a Nobody now. |
So sorry to hear this. This will sound stupid but I hope you are doing ok. |
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02/04/2009 02:57:22 PM · #72 |
Originally posted by David Ey:
Originally posted by Nobody:
As of 9:15 this morning, I am officially an ex-banker. After twenty-two years, I am no longer needed. I am officially a Nobody now. |
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ROFLMAO :) |
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02/04/2009 02:58:27 PM · #73 |
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02/04/2009 03:02:55 PM · #74 |
As of today I was given a very big pay cut. I would look for another job, but we are headed into summer in Phoenix and the city goes into slumber until the weather cools down in October. Ouch!
Message edited by author 2009-02-04 15:32:10. |
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02/04/2009 04:57:42 PM · #75 |
| I'm not affected at all by the economy. I'm a school bus driver and a firefighter/EMT. Both jobs will always have a place in society. However, my wife is the general manager at a Dunkin' Donuts and their sales are down. |
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