Strike during economic hardships.

[Visinedrops]

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/NEWS04/709247964

Hard economic times call for...a strike? There are, on average, about 4 people in my town huddled around a small fire, sitting in sling chairs amidst a gallery of picket signs, indicating they are on strike. I am unsure if these people are associated with the particular strike in the link above, but they were the reason I began this thread.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28527491/

Alcoa, one of the world's largest producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina, has indicated that they will be cutting 13,500 jobs. There is an Alcoa plant on the outskirts of my town, which aids in quite a few jobs here.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/388787_boeingjobs21.html

Boeing is warning of layoffs coming this year, of an estimated 800 jobs.

With all these people being laid off of their jobs, mainly because of a suffering economy, how in the name of all that is holy can people go on strike because they don't want to pay for their own medical care???

[Rustyshakelford]

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs....WS04/709247964

Hard economic times call for...a strike? There are, on average, about 4 people in my town huddled around a small fire, sitting in sling chairs amidst a gallery of picket signs, indicating they are on strike. I am unsure if these people are associated with the particular strike in the link above, but they were the reason I began this thread.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28527491/

Alcoa, one of the world's largest producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina, has indicated that they will be cutting 13,500 jobs. There is an Alcoa plant on the outskirts of my town, which aids in quite a few jobs here.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/388787_boeingjobs21.html

Boeing is warning of layoffs coming this year, of an estimated 800 jobs.

With all these people being laid off of their jobs, mainly because of a suffering economy, how in the name of all that is holy can people go on strike because they don't want to pay for their own medical care???

Everyone keeps telling me the economy is in the dumps, people are dying of starvation, and bands of unemployed cannibals are waiting to eat you in the streets.

I do not see it. Is the worst economy in the history of the world affecting anyone out there in Xcolony land?

[Big_Saw]

Because the idiots expect, and will probably recieve a gov. entitlement, or "bail-out"...at taxpayer expense, regardless...plunging the national debt even further.....there's no way to recover from what we are in. It has to hit bottom, and that's a long way down, but it will not catch everyone...just like the depression didn't get everyone....just those most vulnerable and least prepared for it.

I think anyone who would punch out and take zero pay in order to picket, rather than earn a check while filing their grievance is a moron. You can still improove your terms of employment while providing the labor you've agreed to in your job description and drawing a living salary.

[Big_Saw]

Everyone keeps telling me the economy is in the dumps, people are dying of starvation, and bands of unemployed cannibals are waiting to eat you in the streets.

I do not see it. Is the worst economy in the history of the world affecting anyone out there in Xcolony land?

Actually, so many people are hitting hard times around here, the remodeling market is in the ditch....I've laid off every hand I have - except one - and am trying to secure another venue for us to make a living...but I'm not worried. It'll either pick back up, or I'll flip burgers until something better presents itself...I am not unskilled.

People need to put their pride aside and support their way of life in any way possible...even if that means restructuring your "career" for a little while.

[flight or fight]

The economy has affected my job in a big way. Less money means less shoppers and they are just buying essentials and nothing else. We have had about 15% of our payroll taken out of our stores to make up for the sales losses this holiday season. Times are tight and i have a stack of applications 3 inches thick of people willing to work any job i can get for them.

[Visinedrops]

People need to put their pride aside and support their way of life in any way possible...even if that means restructuring your "career" for a little while.

I agree with that completely. Those people who are laid off of their jobs can find suitable employment doing something. What angers me, though, is the audacity of people who bring a company to a halt, simply because they want something extra.

I have realized, through reading different posts on here, that this community, this nation of that which is presidented by our fearless leader Diesel, and his chiefs of staff Rustyshakelford, Big_Saw, Beebopcop, and Zombie Axe, X-Colony has the answers to solve the biggest problems this nation faces. We are the ones everyone will turn to for help when things go awry. It is through the shared knowledge and appreciation of the thoughts of every single citizen (member) of X-Colony, without judgement or fear of being ridiculed.

I for one am proud to be a citizen of XC.

[Rustyshakelford]

I agree with that completely. Those people who are laid off of their jobs can find suitable employment doing something. What angers me, though, is the audacity of people who bring a company to a halt, simply because they want something extra.

I have realized, through reading different posts on here, that this community, this nation of that which is presidented by our fearless leader Diesel, and his chiefs of staff Rustyshakelford, Big_Saw, Beebopcop, and Zombie Axe, X-Colony has the answers to solve the biggest problems this nation faces. We are the ones everyone will turn to for help when things go awry. It is through the shared knowledge and appreciation of the thoughts of every single citizen (member) of X-Colony, without judgement or fear of being ridiculed.

I for one am proud to be a citizen of XC.

Can I be head of the nuclear regulatory commision? I will personally inspect and test our nukes!! Not in my garage of course.

[Big_Saw]

Can I be head of the nuclear regulatory commision? I will personally inspect and test our nukes!! Not in my garage of course.

I'll take SecDef!!!

[lazer128]

Affected BIG time. Construction has all but stopped. Our design services ran out before then. We can see "the end". Hard times ahead.

Rusty, maybe you can help? We recently completed an area classification study for a natural gas client in Fort Stockton. It was produced hand-in-hand with an arc flash study by an electrical engineer. Know anybody we can talk to in your biz that may need code/architectural services? WE NEED WORK!

[Rustyshakelford]

I'll take SecDef!!!

Oh....and director of the BATFE!!! I want that post too.

[Zombie Axe]

We will hafta see how America's largest telecom fairs when the contracts expire in April and August:eek:

[snal]

I have a metal fab shop here in WNC. Typically we have done better in a recession because our commercial customers are fixing things rather than replacing things. However, our customer base has changed over the past few years, and there's not a lot of "plant" work anymore. We are still seeing average weekly sales numbers, perhaps even above average, but sales are painfully unpredictable. For the past 8-10 weeks we have had at least 1 day of every week where we didn't have a damn thing to do...sometimes 2 days, but the week still ends up with at least average sales. Our shop consists of me, my brother(partner), and 3 employees. We still have all of them. Some of our commercial customers (builders) are doing well, or at least ok. Some are dead in the water. New housing under $200k is dead...nota...nut'n!, $300k up is ok.
It's strange that for the past 24 months, ALL metal prices went sky high and kept climbing. During that time we sold more copper and stainless jobs than we ever have! I typically keep well over 2000 sheets of various metals in inventory, but prices are dropping so fast that I have cut my inventory by 2/3rds to try to keep from being stuck with warehouse full of sheet goods that are worth half what I can replace then for. I can do so because our suppliers that once only delivered to our area 1 or 2 days per week...will now deliver 5 days per week, at any quantity, no minimum, and they call daily to see if week need anything!
I'm not seeing much in the way of lay-offs locally. We're not handing out any more applications than normal ( save the welders...I could cover the world with welders ).
Asheville is usually the last to feel any decline, but also the last to recover from it.

[Big_Saw]

Oh....and director of the BATFE!!! I want that post too.

Nope...sorry....that bureau will be abolished...it is unconstitutional.