Stelco mills to temporarily close, 1,500 jobs affected

[stormo41]

Stelco Steel mills shut down

My dad works there! or i should say worked as a welder since he was 19 (now is his 50's). The worst part about all of this is how he found out about it. He as work yesterday but had to find out when he came home and saw it on the news, so he has no idea what is really going on if he can even go to work today. My mom is also off work because she hurt her back and has to get surgery. My dad said he can retire so i guess even though it will be a hard time it wont be as hard for him and my mom as it will be for others.

I fell so bad for those other 1,499 people. This really puts everything in perspective for me I thought out of all of all of us in my family my dad would be the last one to loose his job.

 

[Basketmiss]

So sorry to hear this. It is sad how many factories/manufacturing places are closing...

 

[Shari]

Am sorry for you and your family and best of luck finding a new job!!

My DH has been in the same boat for 2 1/2 months, sadly. He did a local face to face interview last Friday but no word yet. Only other jobs that are interested in him are in VA. Don't really want to move, as I doubt they would loan us money for another mortgage, even if we sell this place.

Many of the more rual counties in Oregon are in dire straights... unemployment at 19% and raising !

 

[Bess Kelly]

Sorry to hear. Maybe your dad will still be working for a while as it is rare a full sized plant just locks the doors, zap!

We had a Ford plant in our area for well, my entire lifetime and then some......huge employer in the area. They closed it about 5 +/- yrs ago. I have got to say that they did right by those employees!! They gave them from 30 days to 18 months notice, provided assistance for re-hire, offered early retirements, transfers, etc. Sad to lose the plant but, a definately caring closing on the part of Ford.

 

[Reble]

So sorry, this is just going to hurt others again.

Just a merry go round. When will we get off.

Steel is what the automotive needs.

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

It seems like the layoff and economy is hitting everyone. My hubby got laid off (permanent) from his job just 2 weeks ago. He had worked at the company for 38 years as a welding specialist, went into work on a Tuesday at 7am and at 10 am they called him and 4 others to the office and told them. No warning, but the company has been laying off for the past year..and the welding dept is down to just a skeleton crew. They also told him, that if things picked up he would be able to be hired back..BUT...he would have to put his application in and start out from scratch! In December he was awarded a plaques for being one of there most valued employes...just two months later, hes done! He was also 3 weeks short of getting his 6 weeks vacation, which now the company isnt going to pro-rate and give him anything, which I dont think is right at all. Luckily, he is old enough to collect SS. He is 62, he will also be able to receive a 3 month severance package, which the company JUST put together only for employees who have been there 30 or more years (...and there sure isnt very many of those employes!)) plus he will be able to get unemployment for 1 year. The really kick in the butt is going to be the health insurance. He can get cobra for 18 months thru the factory where he worked at a small fortune which is $1,386.00 a month for both of us. Not sure if we are going to take that yet. I wish we had the Canadian health care system. (I know there are pros and cons to that as well) but at least it is some kind of insurance. You just have to wonder how this is ever going to turn around.

 

[CKC]

I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad and all the others that have lost their jobs.

I seem to be able to relate to a lot of these posts.

I lost two jobs back to back. The last job I was pregnant... they called me at home and told me that over 100 employees were being let go and I was one of them. I was the only one that was called on the phone. Oh AND I used to get a small bonus each month.... you could not miss two days in a row or you would lose your bonus. They let me go two days before the end of the month. I had never missed a bonus before that. They would not budge on giving me the bonus.

That was almost three years ago. I'm at the point where I have to find a job. I didn't work before because daycare costs for two kids(well still does) way more than what I could make in a month. I've worked in so many different fields... I thought I would find something. NOPE! I've applied for accounting, banking, retail and grocery. NOTHING! My first job I was laid off from(they sold out and let all of the corporate employees go) I was there 13 years. Most of the places I've called and it's really sad to hear the employees tell me they are losing their hours and some didn't know if they would even have a job in the future.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, but sometimes I just need to vent to adults(I'm at home with kids all day- I love it, but still they don't need to hear my problems).

HUGS!

Kim

 

[nootka]

I am so sorry for this...scary.

Please remember to buy American with American made materials...it may help save your job, but most of all it will help get our economy back from the ground up.

Keep your money on YOUR soil as much as possible.

Purchase from your local community and from locally-owned businesses where possible. The big box stores will be FINE, but we need to feed the people that live and work WITH us.

Sorry to hijack the thread, it just grieves me to see another big factory closure and loss of jobs, incomes, etc. I hope everyone makes it through ok.

Liz