Just another casualty to outsourcing and capitalism

[octavia]

Me. Myself and my sons, we are the casualties this time.
IP closing Albany Paper Mill; decision will cost 230 jobs
I found it insulting that they are closing the mill even though, profits are up. It's a well known fact that this mill still creates revenue. Not only that, but they are making damn sure NO ONE ELSE can use all the brand new equipment to make paper. Why?

They can pay people less money to make the paper somewhere else.

It should be illegal to close a perfectly profitable business JUST to increase a monopoly and profit margin.


In December I knew I would be losing 30% of my income. Now... I will be losing 100% of my income. I am not sure what I'm going to do now.... every time I think about having to quit school, I cry.

I asked my x-husband if he wanted to move to Canada with us.

[LRKingII]

So sorry you getting the sh!ty deal.
Would you let the x drive your new Prius?

[hyo silver]

Sigh. You don't need more bad news. "Merry Christmas", corporate style.

If you're serious about Canada, be warned that we have capitalists and corporations here, too.

edit: No, that's not what I meant. Start here.

[DaveinOlyWA]

Wow, Oct, so sorry to hear about your job. i went thru a 30% pay reduction in April, now another slowdown is in the works. no pay cut, but company ended 401 K matching Sept 1. stopped employee stock purchase Dec 1. more to come.

[octavia]

Originally Posted by DaveinOlyWA

Wow, Oct, so sorry to hear about your job. i went thru a 30% pay reduction in April, now another slowdown is in the works. no pay cut, but company ended 401 K matching Sept 1. stopped employee stock purchase Dec 1. more to come.

Sorry... I should clarify!

I just re-read my post and it is misleading, but not on purpose.

I currently work as a full time volunteer getting a very modest living stipend. I will be done with my assignment and be losing that income when I complete it in December. I was not thrilled about it, and am looking for work to replace it, but I wasn't in a panic because I still had child support/spousal support that we could get by on.

We are losing it all now. If I have to take full time work to survive, I don't know how I will be able to still go to school, but what I want most in this world is to go to school and get my MSW.

I'm trying really hard to have a positive outlook on this and to see it as an opportunity, but coming so close on the heals of so many other "opportunities", I'm having a hard time.

[dogfriend]

Originally Posted by octavia

Sorry... I should clarify!

Still not completely clear, but I think that your x is losing his job, so you will no longer get spousal/child support, correct?

Sorry for your loss of income. I have now been out of work for a year after the company I worked for shut down. The corporate owners moved all of our work to Malaysia.

I have been trying to get a state job because they are one of the only employers that have decent medical and retirement plans, but the state has been laying off boat loads of people too..

The worst part about losing a job isn't the loss of income, its all the bullshit that you are expected to go through to get another one.

[F8L]

That is terriible news Octavia.

I hope you are able to stay in school. Do you have the option for searching for a paid internship that would equal what you got paid as a volunteer?

[galaxee]

i'm sorry

IP ended up selling the site where my dad works to another company- it was a very close call for them.

DH went back to school while he was unemployed, but of course he had someone else (that is, me) to support him during this time. have you looked into any openings at your college? employees usually get a tuition break, so maybe you could continue part time and at a cheaper rate.

[octavia]

Originally Posted by dogfriend

Still not completely clear, but I think that your x is losing his job, so you will no longer get spousal/child support, correct?

Sorry for your loss of income. I have now been out of work for a year after the company I worked for shut down. The corporate owners moved all of our work to Malaysia.

I have been trying to get a state job because they are one of the only employers that have decent medical and retirement plans, but the state has been laying off boat loads of people too..

The worst part about losing a job isn't the loss of income, its all the bullshit that you are expected to go through to get another one.

Yes, correct.
I knew I wasn't alone in this... I'm in a weird position on this one though, I won't get unemployment etc. I'm not sure what it going to happen to me but sitting down with my x husband last night about broke my heart. As much of a son of a bitch as he is, this work is all he has ever known, most of his pride and self worth are tied up in his ability as a provider and employee. This is devastating him. His position in the company is very technically specific, there is no job market for his skills now that they are closing this mill.
Last night, I was remembering all the people and families I have gotten to know over the years who work there. This has happened to so many people, and it is so unfair. When are they going to realize they are decimating their own market? Once they ruin us all, who will be left to buy their products? The people in Malaysia, only they will have to sell to em at a price they can afford on their reduced wages!

Originally Posted by F8L

That is terriible news Octavia.

I hope you are able to stay in school. Do you have the option for searching for a paid internship that would equal what you got paid as a volunteer?

The part about this that makes me cry is the thought of losing my school. I have fought so hard and so long to get here and I want this more than anything. FINALLY I'm at a place in my life where I am doing work I believe in and where my skills fit. I make a terrible waitress, I just piss people off all day. I've got an email into the school, and my boss, letting them know what is happening. I'm going to just keep knocking on doors and hope one opens.

Originally Posted by galaxee

i'm sorry

IP ended up selling the site where my dad works to another company- it was a very close call for them.

DH went back to school while he was unemployed, but of course he had someone else (that is, me) to support him during this time. have you looked into any openings at your college? employees usually get a tuition break, so maybe you could continue part time and at a cheaper rate.

I'm looking into that, but the program I'm in is labeled "self supporting" so does not qualify for any tuition breaks for employees.

[dogfriend]

Originally Posted by octavia

Once they ruin us all, who will be left to buy their products?

I have wondered about this for years, but the people in charge do not care, so long as they are making money. I think we are now starting to see the leading edge of what will happen in the US without a manufacturing base. Everyone will be in the service industries, trying to sell services to each other, but no one will have the income to buy the services. Or, they will be in the government sector, but without the income from taxes, the government will also be forced to shrink and cut benefits.

Sorry, none of this helps, does it?

Originally Posted by octavia

The part about this that makes me cry is the thought of losing my school. I have fought so hard and so long to get here and I want this more than anything. FINALLY I'm at a place in my life where I am doing work I believe in and where my skills fit. I make a terrible waitress, I just piss people off all day. I've got an email into the school, and my boss, letting them know what is happening. I'm going to just keep knocking on doors and hope one opens.

I'm looking into that, but the program I'm in is labeled "self supporting" so does not qualify for any tuition breaks for employees.

Don't give up. Talk to the counseling people at your school. They will know about any programs available. I am taking night classes at the local community college (I can't take day classes without screwing up unemployment). They have a program here called CalWorks which I believe is meant to help single moms get retraining and financial assistance. They should have something similar in Oregon.

Hang in there. Tell your x to hang in there too. I know how he feels. At least he should be eligible for unemployment.