It's "Blue Monday"...

[Jen Blackburn]

today Ford announces a huge restructuring plan that includes the closing of probably 4 manufacturing plants (we think we know which four -- Wixom, MI; St. Paul, MN; Atlanta, GA; and St. Louis, MO.)... and between 25,000 and 30,000 jobs.

I haven't felt nervous about this until just now.

I'm *pretty sure* that Brian's job is secure and that we'll be fine.. he's got a more critical job, has had wonderful reviews, has built up almost 6 years of experience there; but perhaps I am looking through rose colored glasses.

I don't know if the jobs that will be lost are salary or hourly - if they include the workers at the plants they are closing, if there will be more management or non -- blue collar/white collar.. we have no clue.

*If* Brian still has a job, he doesn't yet even know if he'll be continuing to work in the same position, or if he'll continue to have the same co-workers or managers... his "assumption" is that he'll continue to work on the '09 Escape - but we won't know until later... maybe not even until mid-week.

so... now i sit here nervous till 10:30 when they announce what it means in general, and i may sit her nervous all week long...

[Loretta Neureiter]

Hi Jen, I understand your feelings. In Nov. when GM laid off it trickled down to my husbands job (they make car parts where he works) he was laid off and told three or four months and he would be called back. Now we're wondering bout that.

[Sara Sheppard]

I'm sorry Jen. I know this must be so hard!

Sara

[Gina Stevenson]

today Ford .......

*If* Brian still has a job, he doesn't yet even know if he'll be continuing to work in the same position, or if he'll continue to have the same co-workers or managers... his "assumption" is that he'll continue to work on the '09 Escape - but we won't know until later... maybe not even until mid-week.

Well, Jen, it's after 10:30, and we hope all is well there. As for the '09 Escape ... would guess, from the gas situation & the way some SUVs use it, that this smaller Escape wouldn't end up on the "scrap table" by any means. In fact, isn't the Escape -- some or all of them -- a hybrid, even?

For many people, tho', this will definitely be a sad, stressful, depressing time.

blessings on your family,

[Barbara Philipp]

Miss Jen: I will be praying. I've been through 3 restructions and lay offs. I know that times will be rough before better. I will be praying the trickle is slow, very slow, and that God gives you peace.

God bless.

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

i've waited all day for a word from you. Do you have anything yet?

praying

[Jen Blackburn]

well, all that was announced this morning was the big picture -- they announced that they'd be closing 4 plants this year, (not st. paul, which surprised me), and that several thousand jobs would be cut -- including about 4,000 white collar...

brian has no clue yet about his own job. they know that there will be meetings held all week to discuss who's going where and who's doing what, but it hasn't been announced when his particular meeting will be... his immediate manager doesn't even know that yet.

so it's a wait & see game at this point...

i'm not nervous anymore.. i'm back to feeling like we'll be okay. just praying God continues to give me that courage.

[Billy Cox]

Gina,

I have followed the stories about the Ford Escape hybrid, but I have yet to see one on the road. They are not all hybrids.


-Billy

[Gina Stevenson]

Oh, OK. Wasn't sure if the Escape I saw months ago was one of the hybrids I'd heard of, or a "normal" gas-operated vehicle.

Gina,

I have followed the stories about the Ford Escape hybrid, but I have yet to see one on the road. They are not all hybrids.


-Billy