Its official. My sister's hubby lost hisi job and insurance . Bush and this economy have struck

[greenbriar]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2766076







The employees were handed a letter on their way out the door today


He has a job until March 29 and then its see ya

[aquart]

1. I'm so sorry.

My sister just went thru it with her husband and, even though he's working now, the fear is still in everything she does.

[glowing]

2. I'm sure that 1200.00 will do a lot when it finallly comes.. I am so sorry..

it sucks.. a lot of us are suffering even with jobs...

[Blue Diadem]

3. I'm sorry greenbriar

We've been through it twice now. It's an awful feeling. My DH worked almost 25 yrs at one place and it closed down. We had to move out of state to find work..then that place closed. He went through retraining during the year he was out of work. We haven't recovered financially and at this stage I doubt we ever will. Any job around here now is 2/3 the pay.

My neighbor just experienced the same thing. He worked for Con-agra and they closed the local plant. I don't know how they'll make it, they have 3 kids..all still at home.

I hope and pray your BIL can find something.

[greenbriar]

4. I just talked to my sister, she is in shock. Her bday was Tuesday

and they were coming to the big city tomorrow night to celebrate. We were going to go to a Japanese steak house...she said they better not come now..I told them they BETTER and that we would pay for dinner



she is crying

[Blue Diadem]

7. you know..

I never cried until now. I so hate to see other people go through what we've been through. The job situation just keeps getting worse and worse and how in the world do they expect people to make a living when they keep closing these places.

I'm glad you encouraged her to still go to dinner tomorrow. Please tell her that someone from Ohio knows her pain and that I'm so sorry she and her DH are having this happen to them.

[greenbriar]

12. I'm sorry to make you cry

I just feel really bad for her right now

[Blue Diadem]

14. Don't be sorry,

I think it's something I needed and was long overdue. I've always been the one to think about how we'll get through this, plan the course of action, keep up the encouragement to DH and never acknowledge my own emotions. It truly has been the death of our dreams. Everything we planned for years was suddenly changed. I just hate that other people are still experiencing it and it's only going to get worse.

I'm glad your sister has you to be there for her.

[FreakinDJ]

5. Feel bad for your sister and family

But essentially in the Bush economy it is like that for 80% of all workers.

Look at all the manufacturing jobs that just "went away" in the last 7 years. Look at all the home loan office workers getting the ax as of late.

This is just like the Great Depression when banks foreclosed on 1000s of homes and farms every week, even when they denied paying out the savings owed to the people.

The rich power brokers "Legally" stealing from the poor

Today we have the same thing still but on a more selective scale so as not to provoke to much disdain from the workers. First they rip off your savings in the S&L scandal. Then they go after your retirement portfolio in the Enrom scandal. Now they are going for your homes in the ARM scandal.

We need to fight back

[pnwmom]

6. I'm really sorry. Is there any way they can manage the COBRA payments? n/t

[greenbriar]

11. no

they just barely make it now

[pnwmom]

49. When my sister ran into a problem like this

we paid the insurance for them, until she got back on her feet again.

I hope that somehow the extended families can figure out a way to help your sister's family, but I know it's costly.

[radfringe]

8. thoughts are with your sister and family..

[taught_me_patience]

9. Sorry to hear that

hopefully he can find another job soon.

[proud patriot]

10. I'm sorry to hear that

[knitter4democracy]

13. Classy way to tell the employees, huh.

:eyes:

Gah, this is awful! To lose his job at this time of year with heat bills and more. That's terrible! I'll be thinking of them and him finding the right new job. :hug:

[originalpckelly]

15. Unemployment needs to be more comprehensive. Even if it's private through an NGO.

People should get to keep their same health insurance and get paid a salary similar to that of their prior job, while also receiving free job re-training and placement. Even if it has to be done outside of government, to please the Republicans, then let it be.

Layoffs are sometimes necessary for companies to survive, but unfortunately the way we do it in America is absolutely inhuman and ought to be ended.

Ideally, people would save as much as possible, but sometimes savings get wiped out. Things happen to people, or sometimes they just don't make enough to get by each month.

[greenbriar]

16. that would be nice huh

they are so scared right now


they depend so much on their insurance to pay for all the allergy/athsma drugs their boys have to take

[originalpckelly]

17. It's just plain awful. COBRA is such a crock of crap too.

I mean they might as well not even have it, it's freaking expensive. This system is not designed to be on our side, it's designed to be on their side! I'm so sick of it! What are they going to do for money now? These big corporations just use people up and spit them out when it becomes inconvenient. They probably had some knowledge about this decision for a while now, why not tell them sooner? It's just beyond belief how inconsiderate and inhumane this nation's aristocracy behaves.

[greenbriar]

18. I think this will be the final straw for them politically

they are leaning towards Edwards and I bet now if they hear his message, they will finally be voting for their interests and not against them

[originalpckelly]

19. I only hope he can pull it out, but it doesn't look like it.

Really, I don't know if America can wait until 2009 for the change it needs immediately. We all say stuff all the time on DU, and it's just a bunch of hot air. We need to actually do something. But it seems almost impossible to effect change in such a large and cumbersome system. One person or group of people, they're so powerless to do anything. It just gets lost in the vastness of America. Maybe that's the problem, it's all so big and inhumane that individuals just get lost in the shuffle.

Best of luck to them. I read your earlier thread, it doesn't sound like there's much there where they live. (I'm sorry, had to edit a couple of times, got caught up in the story on The Wichita Eagle. Forgot they don't live in Emporia.)

[bdamomma]

20. terrible, I feel bad for your sister and her husband.

the poison of this administration is spreading.

[greenbriar]

21. I think my sisters hubby just lost his job...He has been there 25+ years more businesses closing...

Great economy yea right!!!!!!!!!


and its not just the income but their insurance as well, and they have two sons with chronic athsma



EMPORIA, Kan. - Tyson Foods, the world's largest meat company, announced Friday it would cease beef slaughter operations at its Emporia plant, cutting about 1,500 jobs, more than half its work force at that facility.

The cuts were a response to a difficult beef market and the location of the Emporia plant in eastern Kansas, which has been part of Tyson Foods since the company's purchase of IBP Inc. in 2001, said Dick Bond, president and CEO of Tyson Foods,





http://www.kansas.com/news/updates/story/292166.html

[shenmue]

22. I'm so sorry.

I've been laid off two or three times in the last six years or so. It's terrible. I hope something comes up soon.

[greenbriar]

23. He drives 45 miles each way to work...he has no other skills

and the town they live in there is NOTHING>>>

I honestly don't know what they will do

[shenmue]

27. I am really sorry.

My heart goes out to them.

[babylonsister]

24. This happened to my b-i-l in August after 24 years, no sick days. He

was 59-1/2 years old. It does indeed suck.

[Mike03]

25. My heart goes out to you and your sister's husband

I too have been laid off.

Man, I'm surprised it's this particular industry that's been hit. I wonder why Tyson meat would experience a "difficult beef market" right now.

[Jane Austin]

26. Beef costs more than pasta. n/t

[Mike03]

28. Regardless of what I privately think of the meat industry,

it seems like great care has been taken to keep the price of red meat low relatively compared to other products, including produce and nuts.

[BrotherBuzz]

29. Corn prices have upset the turnip cart

[conscious evolution]

30. Wish we had cheap beef around here.

A single steak can cost $10.00-15.00 in Atlanta grocery stores.
With prices like that it is no wonder the beef packers are having it tough.

[Jane Austin]

41. You may be right.

I seldom buy meat, but I hear people talking about how high everything is, so I guessed meat has risen in price along with everything else.

[SoCalDem]

48. $8.99 a lb for some cuts of meat

and even "on sale" most edible meats are $2 a lb and up..

I still remember when I was young and shopping for my young family.. I would always look for the $3 roast..

I could cook a $3 roast and serve yummy roast beef, cooked carrots & mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner, and have left overs for hot beef sandwiches the next day..and still have enough left over to make Shepherd's Pie...for our little family of three (back then)..

[AndyA]

31. I am terribly sorry to hear this.

What a screwed up country we live in today.

Sending good thoughts their way.

[greenbriar]

32. they will get 60 days pay

and then boom 3 weeks from now


jobless

[fed-up]

33. I'm sorry-maybe too many people read "Fast Food Nation" and "The Jungle"? nt

[bicentennial_baby]

34. ...

:thumbsup:

[Akoto]

50. Do you really think that was a necessary statement right now? n/t

[snappyturtle]

35. How very sad. It's a tragedy for these families.

I K&R'd this.....many need to read it!

[senseandsensibility]

36. Is there a chance that he won't be one of the 1,500 that lose their

job? Not that that helps matters for the ones that do. I feel sorry for all of them, and in this economy I hate to think what they will face.

[greenbriar]

37. he handles the cows before slaughter

His job will be gone

[senseandsensibility]

38. I'm sorry to hear that.

What a mess this country is in.

[MiniMe]

39. I'm so sorry Greenbriar

I believe that they are required to offer COBRA for health insurance. It at least lets you get the premiums at the group rates, although group rates for a family is expensive. At least you would not lose coverage during an unemployment period, and if you have the insurance, I don't think they can exclude anything with a new job.

:hugs:

[Kansas Wyatt]

40. Shit, they're closing the slaughter side?

I grew up thirty miles from there, and worked on the slaughter side when I went to college.

Things are very bad in Emporia, Kansas, because all the jobs are drying up quickly. There is just no place else, other than Emporia, to earn a living in that area of Kansas.

[greenbriar]

42. yup

Emporia will be hurting!!!!!!


1,500 jobs GONE

[Kansas Wyatt]

45. They were already hurting...

When Modine shut down and went to Mexico. The Bakery might shut down too, since they are still in bankruptcy.

[greenbriar]

46. wow, that would pretty much end all of Emporia industry

at least the college is there

[Kansas Wyatt]

47. That's about the only thing they have left.

My sister worked at Modine, and she said that the city acts like they are just going to rely on the college, IBP (Tyson), and let everything else go.

[greenbriar]

51. yea

.

[Ineedchange]

43. I'm sorry to hear about their lost, they are the victims of

big businesses like Tyson and Cargill who will blame the cost on feed versus their unsustainable business model. You can't have you products banned in countries then blame your bad business model on the feed cost. Yes the feed cost is going up, but their markets keep drying up because of all the chemicals they feed the animals. They've tried to pass the rising costs to consumers but they have less customers!!!! Even their loyal U.S. customers are turning against them.

Then I'm more jaded by any decision by big business. Are they going to move more of this operation to Argentina and import the meat? That would explain this statement from Tyson, "The facility will be used as a cold storage and distribution warehouse, and will process ground beef". Where will this meat come from?

Then to top it off, what the hell is all this stuff and about cloned cattle???

http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2533174520080125

http://search.ft.com/ftArticle?sortBy=gadatearticle&queryText=%22Tyson+Foods+Inc%22&y=7&aje=true&x=21&id=070906000608&ct=0

http://www.foodproductiondaily-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=79967-cargill-tyson-american-meat-institute

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2007-12-27-tyson-pay_N.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007-10-30-kalsec-meat-carbon-monoxide_N.htm (Not exportable to Europe!!)

P.S. Books like "Fast Food Nation" and "Skinny Bitch" don't help.

[Yuugal]

44. I'm sorry to hear that

I can't afford to buy much meat anymore. With the way the reps have screwed small farmers and all the outsourcing and plant closings caused by their "free trade", why don't these red states wake up and vote dem? Oh wait, except for Edwards, our side is just as bad. NM

[Corgigal]

52. I'm so sorry

The same thing happened to my neighbor last week. Been there for 20 plus years and was asked on a Friday if he had all of his tools in the truck. He said of course I do and they said he was being let go. Then someone else drove him home and he said when he got home he went into the house and cried for the first time in years. He has two kids in college and he's in his mid 50's and told my husband for the first time in a long time he's afraid. A man in his 50's , retired military and a worker for a major company is afraid.

This country is so damn mean. If I can assist you in anyway please let me know.

[greenbriar]

53. thank you

we have been messaging back and forth and scouring the papers and job sites on the internet