Just another casualty to outsourcing and capitalism

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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 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?

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.

 

Capitalism isn't about the long term. As long as there's a savings in the short term that's the move businesses will make.

 

Octavia, your ex should be eligible for re-training programs, where he is put through school to learn another trade, and will get support while he's at it.

Follow Dogfriends advice, and talk to the financial counselors. you should be able to get general assistance from the state, since you have kids and are in school. Food stamps and medical assistance, if nothing else.

I'd like to suggest that you don't move to Canada with your ex. Certainly, move without him, if you'd like... but don't put yourself back in a situation that will eat you alive, okay? You'll make it - and so will he.

 

I'm going to bite my tongue on offering any marital advice, but I will say there may be legal issues involving visitation rights affected by taking children out of the country.

 

Bummer, octavia. You can try my line of work, which is posting on PriusChat all day. It's interesting work, but so far it hasn't paid well.

Seriously, though, perhaps something good will emerge from this disaster. It has happened to me, and others I know, that we came out better on the other end, even though everything is dark and bleak at the moment. We are all pulling for you.

Tom

 

Sorry to hear about that

I fail to see how moving to Canada would solve anything. The Canadian pulp and paper industry has been decimated too, with a lot of the damage due to the Softwood Lumber Dispute

CBC News Indepth: Softwood lumber dispute

Things may not be quite as bad in Canada as they are in the US or in EU countries, but things are still BAD. It could be a long time before things pick up again

I personally have changed careers more often than I care to admit, at least 6 major career changes plus many minor ones. I've learned to become proactive and look ahead

I don't for one moment believe the lies that corporations and especially governments tell us, about how they "look out for us." Pure crap

The most important thing about any economic slowdown is not having any debt. If my contracts dried up tomorrow, I could easily get by for at least 3 years. True, I would have to dramatically cut expenses, no more entertainment or casual spending, but I could do it

I know people in NW Ontario who lost their jobs when a paper mill shut down. Long term there are no prospects in that area, families are forced to break apart and move on

I'm hoping this works out for you

 

Keep your chin up and start planning for more cut backs now. As a psych nurse we are seeing more and more people crushed by this economy coming into the hospital after making suicidal statements, getting into drugs or alcohol d/t stress.

Keep your friends and family close, let them know what your situation is. Help may be there open handed or as bartering between others. Even here in San Diego there is a return to bartering and recycling goods to others in our circle of F&F. Corporations will get their own kick in butt someday when there is no one left to support them! of course the CEOs already have millions if not billions put away.

Yes Octavia there is a socialist movement about!

 

Octavia - sorry to hear about your situation.

My first (humble) advice is to look at jobs at the institution where you are pursuing your MSW. This is important because at many institutions, employees are allowed to take classes (fully paid for by the institution) while working full time (this is the case at both state and private institutions, including many Ivies). There is a limit on how many classes you can take (usually only 1 or 2), however it may be helpful in getting you through this rough economic climate.