Kohler company layoffs,I need to vent

[gizmo1979]

Yesterday Kohler idled 357 union employees,in theory.We've had rumors of the layoff for weeks.We didn't know how many but we understood and were not upset or suicidal.Fast forward to yesterday,we knew it was happening yesterday we were just waiting for facts.The venting part,the facts never came,we heard the NOS. on the radio at noon.There was our union president giving an interview to the local radio station when his union brothers and sisters knew nothing.Now only 2 people actually got their walking papers yesterday and we're left with rumors about what is going to happen next.Now the people are really pissed off!So they went from a crew of accepting people to a mob of extremely upset people.What could they have been thinking?If anyone has any insight into the situation I'd love to hear them. Thank you for allowing the rant.I still don't know if I have a job or not.

[dembotoz]

1. First off, lordy i hope you made the cut and still have a job.

Layoffs do seem to be done in a hamfisted manner by some employers.
Perhaps it is better this way, I do not think i would want to work for someone
who has layoff down to a science.

Keeping people in the dark does seem to be the trademark of such a project.
I do not know if they fear employee theft or vandalism. My last 2 jobs before my
current employment ended in layoff.

The first was a company coming out of bankruptcy. We were gathered in the conference room
for a company wide conference call. Bout 1/2 way thru the call i turned to may boss and said,
"I don't think we have a job here anymore"
Sure enough, when we got back to our computers, our layoff notices were in the inbox. I was forturnate in that i was just coming off a medical and was given a severance package to make sure
i did not sue anyone. Recieved some outplacement counceling etc. Most my coworkers were just pretty much shown the door.

My last layoff experience was different. My employer just pulled out of the state. Our office
was down to just 2 employees when the axe fell. we were kept on for a few weeks to close up
the office and pack up the files, furniture etc. I was lucky in that i had a new job the day the old one ended. did not have to file for uc for anything.

The last one was 3 years ago. Times are different now. Wish you luck.
and let me restate again.

I think it is about time du looks to have some sort of a jobs board or somethng.

[gizmo1979]

2. Thanks for the perspective.

I really haven't made the cut,it's they just haven't figured out how to best get rid of us and still train the new people.At least one more week though.

[dembotoz]

7. keep the faith

but start looking in your spare time
On the brighter side of a very gloomy situation-you .....
damn
there really is not bright side......

hang in there

[Pharlo]

3. Isn't there something in your contract stating that Kohler has to post

layoffs or overtime a certain amount of time ahead of the implementation of the 'change in hours'?

I know that when I worked at Regalware in Kewaskum (way back in the mid 90's) we had a 48 hour notice to employees spelled out in the contract. On the other hand, the company itself needed at LEAST that much time to get the bumping done before the layoffs were enacted.

Best of luck to you. It seems like lately there is NOTHING in mfg in Sheboygan county.

[gizmo1979]

4. We get a week for schedule changes

but nothing for layoffs.No slim pickings in Sheboygan.Thomas Industries should know their fate within a week.That will probably be more bad news and another 400 jobs lost that aren't coming back.

[Pharlo]

5. What's happening at Thomas Industries?

I hadn't heard anything about them.

Thanks for the update in advance.

[gizmo1979]

6. The company that

bought them out is choosing between 3 cities for it's operations.It's home state is LA.which is where it sounds they'll end up.This plant would be shut down and 400 good paying jobs would be gone.