Ken......Sorry to hear about your job I lost my job when Freightliner closed down in Burnaby and moved to St Thomas Ont in the 80s and again with my next job at Labatt's with the downsizing of it's operations in B.C. I go by.....As one door closes another opens. Good luck on your next dream job.
Ken......Sorry to hear about your job I lost my job when Freightliner closed down in Burnaby and moved to St Thomas Ont in the 80s and again with my next job at Labatt's with the downsizing of it's operations in B.C. I go by.....As one door closes another opens. Good luck on your next dream job.
You're definately not missing out not being here in St. Thomas now with Sterling going belly up! Then new CAW prez met with Daimler yesterday to try and save it, but no dice. I remember growing up how things were going downhill already with the auto industry in Stratford. My dad took early retirement when Blackstone...aka Valeo...the rad plant finally closed.
Ken......Sorry to hear about your job I lost my job when Freightliner closed down in Burnaby and moved to St Thomas Ont in the 80s and again with my next job at Labatt's with the downsizing of it's operations in B.C. I go by.....As one door closes another opens. Good luck on your next dream job.
You're definately not missing out not being here in St. Thomas now with Sterling going belly up! Then new CAW prez met with Daimler yesterday to try and save it, but no dice. I remember growing up how things were going downhill already with the auto industry in Stratford. My dad took early retirement when Blackstone...aka Valeo...the rad plant finally closed.
-- Edited by blacktransam at 13:38, 2008-10-22
Didn't somebody say Toyota was going to save the day by expanding to Woodstock ? thats around the corner from St. Thomas isn't it ?
I think it is so stupid, to see the CAW leader bother, to go see the pres. of Sterling, after the announcment.... It doesn't take much education, to see that the plant, was going to Mexico....Duh Were did the canning plant in Exeter go, after Kraft bought it? Where did the processing plants, go on the Niagra Penn.. Where did John Deere go? where did Timber jack go? and where is Volvo going ? When you become a elected government official, do they take out, your "common sense" memory chip? lol How come Joe Plumber can see the writing on the wall, but the CEO'S cant there I'M DONE
This is the inevitable result when Canadians don't own any of our own industry. I'm not saying every Canadian company would survive, in general we just don't seem to be aggressive enough to grow large enough to survive on the world stage, (maybe that's part of the Canadian "personality") but the ones that do, like Bombardier, at least they aren't moving jobs to Mexico....
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
I am also losing my job.My employer PPG has made a corporate decision not to continue operations at it's glass facility in Owen Sound. This plant has been operating since 1967 and I have been employed there since 1970, started my 39 th year in August, announcement of closure came October 1. They gave us notice that it will close in the first quarter of 2009. Had my meeting 1 on 1 yesterday and have a pretty good severance package, gets me to the magic age of 60! This is the only glass plant left in Canada and they have been selling off a lot of their facilities in the U.S. (recent sale of almost $300 million, involved about 10 operations, all automotive related facilities). I am bitter about losing my job and I do not expect a bailout from the Government, PPG has been heavily investing in Europe and China, before that Mexico. The day after the announcement of closure of Owen Sound glass, Clarkson paint division, Oshawa and Hawkesbury duplate division, a total savings of $100 million they purchased for $25 million a paint division in China. Just this week they paid a dividend to their shareholders of .53. The company I started working for when I was 18 earned their massive profits off the backs of hard working North Americans and began investing and replacing outdated technologies as necessary to compete in that market . That idea has ended with the introduction to free trade and the global markets(domesticating China). They have just recently finished a joint venture in China where they provided technology and assistance in the building of 10 glass plants(paying employees about $2 per hour, how does one cpmpete with that???) and now are involved in one in Dubai. The manufacturing jobs keep disappearing and it looks pretty bad for the next working generation. I am presently a front line supervisor and this company is not the same company I chose to represent so long ago. ARCADIAN Chris
I think that a campain might work but it may be too late as everyone from the top down is only concerned with one thing $$$$$, building products (low cost $ and selling products( high cost $$$$$$$$) ,not even close when it comes to the almighty dollar. There needs to be legislation enacted to prevent offshore dumping of products, just wait until the glass from 10 plants in China starts hitting the North American market (these furnaces melt 500 tonnes of product each, per day). Does anyone notice all the products that giant corporations have had made recently being recalled due to lack of concern for human health and anything to do with the environment? Seems like they are all coming from CHINA!! Now I am ranting, sorry. ARCADIAN
You and Carl are correct looks like the "Buy Canada,U.S." is 10years too late Sorry to hear of job loss.. I am in year 2.5 of leaving family run business, and no pension after 35 years .. Glad they have a plan for you..........You mentioned glass. When I got my Ventura from OREGON, IN Sept, it has a new tinted windshield! 2 days later, I took it to a cruise night, and within 10 minutes, some dude was ragging on me, about a Chinese windshield! How did he know, and what should I do with it? Carl (1949)
Not trying to piss any one of but we did it to our self . Big money for unskilled labour . The dream of retiring at 55 . These people are happy to get $2 a hour it better than no job. I here of people on strike. Fighting for more all the time . They should be glad they still have there jobs not walking the street asking for more . I quite my Union job 4 years ago to start my own business and it was the best thing I did now at least I know if I have work tomorrow . My girl friend was scared when I told here what I was doing but she now says its the best thing that happened. The same month I quite she last he job and has been in University since here past occupation is gone some machine now has it.
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1957 Pathfinder deluxe 4 door wagon 1961 Pontiac Parisienne bubble top Traded for a Harley sorry guys.
Does anyone notice all the products that giant corporations have had made recently being recalled due to lack of concern for human health and anything to do with the environment? Seems like they are all coming from CHINA!! Now I am ranting, sorry. ARCADIAN
Good point. With strict environmental restraints in North America the cost of producing some products goes up. What is the difference if the environment is getting polluted from here or China? The difference is the disregard for the workers or people living nearby. I have been to China and believe me; casualties are expected. Now I'm ranting, sorry.
Does anyone notice all the products that giant corporations have had made recently being recalled due to lack of concern for human health and anything to do with the environment? Seems like they are all coming from CHINA!! Now I am ranting, sorry. ARCADIAN
Good point. With strict environmental restraints in North America the cost of producing some products goes up. What is the difference if the environment is getting polluted from here or China? The difference is the disregard for the workers or people living nearby. I have been to China and believe me; casualties are expected. Now I'm ranting, sorry.
today the plant manager from this previous operation called to say he may have something similar starting in feb 09 and was looking to make a list of "good" guys that could work on the project. I told him I wasn't sure if I fit the criteria but would take anything he had to offer.
Ken, My heart goes out to you! In Dec 2003 I had to make a choice and opted for early retirement. The Graphite Group UCAR started re-structuring and closed their plant in Welland Canada amongst others and downsized others. Fortunately I had enough service and was able to retire! My current Avatar is the retirement!
Just know that specialist knowledge is always in demand and someone will press on you button! God be with you!
It doesn't take much education, to see that the plant, was going to Mexico....Duh Were did the canning plant in Exeter go, after Kraft bought it? How come Joe Plumber can see the writing on the wall, but the CEO'S cant there I'M DONE
Ken/Carl & Other,
A few weeks I predicted that GM will go the Chapter 11 route and it seems I am right!!!
The problem with big corporations is that the CEO's are paid too much and can take unethical risks and make desicions at cost to the employees and the shareholders and if you lose your job, toughees!!!
This is also why company benefits such as health and retirement funds are changed so that their contribution becomes less and less and their profits become more!!!!
Ken, My heart goes out to you! In Dec 2003 I had to make a choice and opted for early retirement. The Graphite Group UCAR started re-structuring and closed their plant in Welland Canada amongst others and downsized others. Fortunately I had enough service and was able to retire! My current Avatar is the retirement!
Just know that specialist knowledge is always in demand and someone will press on you button! God be with you!
You worked for UCAR ? We used their electrodes at the Atlas Steels-UCar in Welland closed in 1999 I believe
Yes, Welland, Berlin, Sheffield and Puerto Rico were of the first, Then the others followed and others only made electrodes up to certain process stages and then sent to other plants (China, South Africa) for completion. It was all cost related with minimum concern for employees. That it is why I opted out. After five years, I was asked to help out for a few months and enjoyed the work. I was however glad I took the option of early retirement. I used to be a Quality Systems Administrator (ISO 9000) with a stint as Process Engineer. Started as a Furnace Operator in 1974!
Worked closely with Canada's ISO 9000 members. In 1992 a Canadian was the Chairman of TC176. John Barnes from Calgary was with me in Budapest. Will look for the photo!
Sorry to hear of job loss.. I am in year 2.5 of leaving family run business, and no pension after 35 years ..
Glad they have a plan for you..........You mentioned glass. When I got my Ventura from OREGON, IN Sept, it has a new tinted windshield! 2 days later, I took it to a cruise night, and within 10 minutes, some dude was ragging on me, about a Chinese windshield! How did he know, and what should I do with it? Carl (1949)
toughees!!!