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 Sanford Corp. manufacturing facilities on Sharpie Way sat idle today after employees were given the day off following the announcement this morning of a company-wide reorganization. The reorganization will shut down the facility permanently by the end of 2009, affecting 300 employees. (T-G Photo by David Melson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
Shelbyville manufacturing operations, which now employ 300 people, will be moved to Maryville in East Tennessee by the end of 2009, according to David Doolittle, a spokesman for Sanford's parent company Newell Rubbermaid Inc. The company's Lewisburg facility, which employs 270, will close by the third quarter of 2009.
At the same time, said Doolittle, a new packaging center will be built next to the Sanford distribution facility on Railroad Avenue in Shelbyville, which will employ more than 125 people. That packaging center is scheduled to be open by the time the manufacturing facility closes. The distribution facility will not be affected.
Sanford employees in Shelbyville were informed of the changes early this morning and then sent home for the day, with pay.
Local government offices were closed today for the Veterans Day holiday, making it difficult to get immediate comment.
Although the Times-Gazette received reports of a police presence, Doolittle said "any law enforcement is there strictly to direct traffic."
Sanford moved manufacturing of its flagship Sharpie permanent marker to Shelbyville amid great fanfare in 2004. A celebration was held on the courthouse square featuring NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, and various city signs were temporarily changed to read "Sharpieville" instead of "Shelbyville." Now, that production, along with production of other markers and highlighters, is being moved to Maryville.
The manufacturing facility spent decades producing pencils, for Empire Pencil Corp. and later Berol Corp., before being bought by Sanford. After the conversion from pencil production to marker production, the company asked the city to change the name of the street where the plant is located from "Pencil Street" to "Sharpie Way."
The company says the reorganization will create "global centers of excellence" in Shelbyville, Manchester and Maryville.
"[W]e will consolidate marker manufacturing in Maryville by the end of 2009," said Doolittle in a news release, "impacting approximately 300 employees. However, we will build a new packaging center of excellence by building a new specialty packaging facility in Shelbyville, expected to employ over 125 workers, to be co-located with our existing distribution center there that employs 150. Affected employees will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at the packaging facility and our other locations."
The announcement is the second piece of bad employment news the community has gotten in recent weeks, following the announcement last month that Summit Polymers would close its Shelbyville plant by January 2009, leaving 263 jobless.
Maryville will become a "center of excellence" for Sanford's markers, highlighters and dry erase products. Approximately 150 jobs are expected to be created in Maryville as production transfers from Shelbyville and Lewisburg by the end of 2009.
"These newly created centers of excellence will enable us to continue to offer high-quality products while operating more efficiently and better aligning our manufacturing process with our strategy, current product mix and consumer demand," Doolittle said in the release.
Sanford says the announced closures will affect about 445 jobs in Tennessee by the end of 2009, leaving the company's statewide employment at 800 to 900.
"In recent years, we have made adjustments to our product lineup and are exiting some categories where consumer demand or profits were too low to continue production," said Doolittle. "This has resulted in our Tennessee facilities being significantly underutilized. By consolidating these facilities and streamlining our operations, we can continue to cost-effectively manufacture quality products in Tennessee. Put simply, it is necessary for us to take this action to remain competitive."
Newell Rubbermaid said last month that its third-quarter profit skidded 68 percent, and it forecast weaker-than-expected earnings for the rest of the year because of falling consumer spending.
Newell Rubbermaid said it may need to re-evaluate plans to sell off some underperforming brands because of the global credit crunch that's keeping perspective buyers from receiving loans to finance transactions.
"Our expectation is that it will take us longer to divest those businesses that we had hoped to divest," Chief Executive Mark Ketchum said. "We may eventually have to develop some alternative plans. We may not be able to divest, we may have to gradually exit from those the way we do our other businesses."
"We understand the impact these changes will have on all affected employees, their families and the communities of Lewisburg and Shelbyville," said Doolittle. "We explored many options before reaching this conclusion. Our focus now is on helping affected employees find new employment, which is why we are announcing these changes well before most will be implemented. We are hopeful that by the second half of 2009 the U.S. economy will be stronger, and impacted employees will be able to find comparable positions."
The company is offering job transition services, which includes resumé preparation, and is working to help arrange for additional transition benefits, such as continuing education. It has also promised supplemental unemployment pay based on an employee's years of service, to make up the difference between unemployment benefits and current wages.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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"Our focus now is on helping affected employees find new employment, which is why we are announcing these changes well before most will be implemented. We are hopeful that by the second half of 2009 the U.S. economy will be stronger, and impacted employees will be able to find comparable positions."
The second half of 2009 is a year away. These people could all be homeless by then.
Hey Sanford, here's an idea for you, how about filling all the new positions at the newly built plant with your employees period. Ohhhhhhh, I see you can't do that you need to find cheaper paid employee's!!!
They won't be homeless if they work until the end of the transition. It's not like they are losing their job today! They have plenty of time to find a new job or apply for the new jobs that will be created with the expansion. I understand lots of people are angry or sad about this news but being sarcastic doesn't help. From what I understand the DC is ok and the expansion will allow some of the employees to transfer. No...they don't have to go through a temp agency. If this was your company would you do what you had to do to keep from completely going under in these hard economical times. Would you rather lose one facility and stay afloat or lose them all and go bankrupt? First it was Summit and now this but no one seems to look at the fact that we are causing this. We were afraid of a gas shortage because everyone assumed it was the end of the world as we knew it because it went up a dollar so no one went anywhere and so no one went shopping. What happens next? The supply went up, the demand went down, now all of a sudden these companies don't need so many employees because nothing is selling which is causing the huge decline in our economic state. How many of you have went out and bought a new car to support summit or office supplies to support sanford? Look in the mirror and ask what you have done lately to support our american companies. Did you go buy something to help pay these employee wages? We are all guilty, including me, for trying to save for the hard times we are creating.
To thisismyopinion,
You are right! If Americans would stop freaking out and go about their normal activities, then we would not be in this mess. It is a domino affect on the economy. I'm not saying go out and carelessly spend your money, but just live life normally. I know that it is hard to do now because jobs have been lost, but that is what needs to be done.The media doesn't help either. They are always pointing out the negative effects and never focusing on the positive. This causes people to talk and worry thus resulting in the situation we are currently experiencing. There are so many people in this world and each of us need something everyday. Think about it. It costs money everyday to live. Somebody is making that money. The move now is to figure out where and who.
Where else are they going to go to work? Shelbyville is becoming a ghost town in regards to places of employment but we still have the Celebration(yes, that is sarcasm).
As a matter my husband works in the car industry and we do have 2 new vehicles. Not helped us one darn bit, I know everyone can not afford new vehicles and definetly can not afford $5.oo sharpie markers when there are cheaper products you can get by with. So I will say one more time what I said on an earlier article that is now gone, let's look at Sanford's outrageous prices on their beloved products and see if that could factor in on why people are not buying them and chosing cheaper products. And also why is Sanford recieving so much import from China and Japan and selling for their outrageous prices and cutting our American jobs?
It's a big cycle. Consumers won't spend money if they don't have a job. Less spending causes less jobs. Sanford leaving will effect so many families. With it being my senior year in high school, and college around the corner, I'm having to re-evaluate my college plans because of my father losing his job. Thanks Sanford for ruining not only your employees future, but their families future also.
I am not sure how people or businesses are suppose to buy pens and pencils when they are spending all their extra money on gas. Yes, gas is going down now but over the past 6 months it has put them in the hole. Now that jobs are being lost nobody has the extra money for pens or pencils.. Sanford isn't the only factory that is hurting.
You can bet your bottom dollar that if gas prices start to rise again, like everybody says they will, the DC will move closer to where the product is being manufactured, why would they pay to have the products shipped, packed and stored here if they are being produced in East Tennessee? Sanford like any other business is there to make money if they can not make money then their only option is to close the doors.
As a long time Sanford employee I am very upset to hear the announcement that was made today obviously. I have been reading the comments about how our overpriced products are contributing to the closing of the plant and how Sanford closing is going to ruin so many families lives........let's look at a different side of this. Do any of you realize how many people Sanford has helped,how many donations have been made to schools, churches, non-profit causes, etc. There are so many of our products that have been sent at our expense to people serving in the military that they might not otherwise have gotten. If you read the story a little closer, you will see that it says about 125 people will be employeed at the expansion that is going to be built. Hopefully many of the people that are affected by the closure of the manufacturing plant will fill these jobs. It is getting bad everywhere, not just at Sanford. At least we are finding out about this well in advance and not driving up to the building and finding a locked gate with a sign that says "closed". My prayers are with all the people that this will affect.
do we know what the severance package on this is or if there is any?
No severance package....NOTHING
thisismyopinion-
I wasn't being sarcastic. I was being realistic. I happen to have 3 family members who work for Sanford. One is a single mother. The other two live together.
Losing their homes is a valid concern. Pretending that they can just stroll out and find a job is kind of silly. They're factory workers with no formal education or other job skills. Where are you suggesting they find work?
Also, suggesting that I run out and buy a car in order to support the local auto industry is ridiculous. Living above our means and unneccessary spending is what got most of us into the economic mess we're in now. I don't think that we should be hiding our money under our mattresses, but I also think it's irresponsible to suggest that people go into debt to buy a vehicle that they don't need, in order to stimulate the economy.
For the record, I was very vocal during the recent "gas shortage" about the fact that people should remain calm. So I'm not a "sky is falling" kind of person.
This situation is different, entirely. It's hard to remain calm when you're jobless and have a family to feed.
Nobody'sFool-
I didn't say you were being sarcastic. I made mention of sarcasm because there were several sarcastic remarks made earlier before the real story posted. I'm sorry you feel everything is directed towards you. As far as your other comment...If you had read the story and my comment you would have seen the part where it was mentioned they have until the middle of next year to work for Sanford at which time they will get unemployment with added monetary benefits to offset the difference between unemployment and their current pay. Unemployment is for 13 weeks plus another 13 week extention so they atleast have income for the 6 months after Sanford is closed. That should actually get them through to 2010. It was also stated that they would get help for continuing education since you believe they can't do any better with themselves because they are lacking formal education. I would hope you would try to encourage them to do better and hang in there like everyone else whose lives are affected by this and not join anymore pity parties. I also never said to go buy a car....The damage is already done. What good would it do now? I simply said if people hadn't been "freaking out" and pinching every penny then maybe the people that had buying a car on their agenda for the year would have done so and maybe kept summit going until this mess is over. Same is true with any other product or company. I'm sorry for your family members but I assure you that I am very directly affected by this also.
It is sad news. People are going to be scared. That is nature. People are going to have to learn how to live on beans and tators. There is no use name calling on here. What we all need to do is stop blaming each other and start praying and seeking God, while He can still be found. It's not any one persons fault. So before any of you start blaming God, read James 1:17.
Instead of bickering on here like some of you do all the time, start praying for the state of our economy and our nation.
Everyone needs to remember that even though there will be jobs for a few at the packaging plant there are those from Shelbyville that transferred from the old mill (E71) and Graphite and went to Lewisburg. Those folks will also be coming back to Shelbyville looking for a job. And when you hear about resume' preparation, transition benefits, and continuing education. Ask someone who used to work for Stanley Tools how all that helped them. And as for those furthering their education...some didn't complete high school...but yet I guess their new GED will get them a higher paying job. This has been in the gossip circle for years....we just thought it would be Mexico....God Bless Us All.
While praying, you may also want to consider typing up a resume, getting that GED, and researching tips on how to do well in an interview. For anyone still employed at Sanford, bear in mind that somewhere in the neighborhood of 125 jobs will be available at the distribution center, so you can also make certain that you're doing the best job you can do, not missing any work, and increasing your odds of being selected for those positions. These are hard times. You can either be a victim or a survivor.
Sanford closing will affect far more people than the ones who just worked there. what happens next???
Pray for the workers and pray for our country.
Brett the Sad Jett
Area Reader, you have a good point, I told my father to stay on his toes and best behavior, LOL, he has been employed with Sanford for many, many, many yrs and has no problems with his job so he should be fine. On the other hand I wonder how all the people that are within a few yrs of retirement are gonna find jobs to take them through to retirement, because as we all know there is no one that is gonna want to hire an older person, they are looking for younger employee's. Also these jobs are not gonna last until Dec. '09, they are going to phase out jobs all along the way. And come on who's going to win out on these spots at the DC when they come available the older emplyee's who make good money and need their jobs or the younger less experienced cheaper labor. And yes I am one of the people on this sight that has been sarcastic and no I am not picking a fight with anyone, just stating my feelings and a lot of facts.
Sanford has been here many many years it is tragic that we are loosing such a large company. Yes it will affect more than just the people who work there (although it will affect them first). Bedford County is becoming a ghost town and Lewisburg already is one. It will trickle down to everyone eventually.
Just a thought for anyone looking for a job........I hear UT has a coaching position open.
These jobs will not be lost all at once and all employees will not be there until the 3rd quarter of 2009. These jobs will be phased out each week. I have never seen a factory that shut down keep all the employees until the day the doors close. There will be limited office staff there until the day it closes but that will be about it.. most of these people didn't even make $10.00 an hour, how much unemployment do you think they are going to receive? Enough to live on? I doubt that very much. And I truly have my doubts that the DC will stay here either, I just do not see it as being something profitable to Sanford.
Ask ICP or Stanley or Eaton employees about how any one of those factories closed their doors.
I wish each of these Sanford employees the best and suggest you start looking for future employment immediately..
Sanford will be missed here in Shelbyville because I will have to agree Sanford did do a lot of good things for the community besides supplying jobs.
if these companies are leaving(Sanford & Summit) what are they doing with the buildings? do they have prospective buyers? have the city & county officials been working to bring more business?
Unless we have an application at TEMP AGENCY we won't be going to the packageing Center. They not gonna let me keep my benefits when they can hire temps. They do it now and they will do it later.
Maybe the local govt needs to spend more time worrying about keeping these companies and attracting more and getting rid of companies like Tyson who bring in cheap 'out of town' labor. We might also need to take a long, hard look at how much the horseshow industry actually helps our economy. It doesn't seem to be year round and it doesn't seem to be attracting new industry. It might also help if so much time wasn't spent discussing tearing down buildings and what kind of trees to plant on the square.
i think people need to wake up and see what is in front of their face, it is life and life has its ups and downs,no one should ever think you couldn't never see hard times, if you have God on your side you and yours will come through this hardship that is affecting so many people.im a summit polymers inc. employee and i understands everyone's pain. i pray every night for all of bedford couny and marshall God bless us all
Don't wait, start looking for a job now. Even if it is temporary, it's something until they get the new facility built. I do think they will bring back former employees, through the hiring process (as specified at Maryville), but at a lower rate of pay. DO NOT depend on OPI, their outsourcing company to help you. They did nothing for the employees of Maryville but ask where they were already looking, tell us that there were no jobs out there, and after getting their resume, we had to retype them ourselves because they were a sham. Maryville is not so bad. Maybe they will offer you a transfer. Good luck from a former employee of Sanford Corp. of Maryville.
Everyone likes to buy cheap products, but unfortunately most of those items come from China. Americans want to be paid really well for doing their jobs, which in turn raises the price of the products up. You can't have both. I would rather get paid a little less and have a job, then not have one at all.
First of all let me say this. I always hate to hear of people losing their jobs through no fault of their own due to a decision from a corporate number cruncher. I have been on the receiving end of these decisions. It hurts to think that after all the time and dedication you have given a company they basically throw you away like yesterday's newspaper. Good luck to everyone affected by this decision.
If Newell-Rubbermaid is making these moves to improve their corporate global position, then why are they constructing a new building rather than utilizing one of their existing facilities that will be vacated? There are also other buildings here in Shelbyville, as well as Lewisburg, that are now empty due to other businesses closing or relocating. Are they expecting the City of Shelbyville to give them tax credits for creating "new" jobs at the packaging center?
If they do not fill these "new" positions with current employees and allow for outside applications, they have just added the 250+ people from Summit to the mix of applicants for these jobs. This would put an estimated 800+ people (from 2 companies) applying for 125 "new" jobs.
"Sanford says the announced closures will affect about 445 jobs in Tennessee by the end of 2009, leaving the company's statewide employment at 800 to 900."
The 445 jobs mentioned being lost are in Shelbyville and Lewisburg. I understand the fact that this decision was made by a corporate office and not local management. I would hope that the local management would be fighting to keep as many jobs here as possible rather than rolling over and taking whatever is being forcefed from the higher ups.
I would urge everyone to attend the city council meetings or call their councilperson and make sure that excessive concessions are not made in an effort to pacify. I am sure the City of Shelbyville made concessions to promote getting the Sharpie production here in 2004, with great fanfare, yet now 4 years later, it is being moved. How long will they be pacified with any concessions made this time?
What kind of concessions do you think they made Bama? Evidently they didn't make as many as Manchester did to get the ink manufacturing facility.
I know if I can get something a little cheaper than I can some place else then I am going to go for the cheaper. It has nothing to do with the gas or anything else.How could any of us go on a trip if it cost us 25.00 to 35.00 more to fill up our cars than it does now. We all were more than likley making the same 2 summers ago as we did this summer and our house payments went up and our power bill went up. So how were alot of us able to go on a trip. I don't think it was because we were scared cause the gas went up or that the sky was falling or the world was coming to and end. We just did not have the extra money. Like tatars are 6.00 for a 10 pound bag at Wallmart but at sav-a-lots they are 3.00. I went for the 3.00 bag. I even bought my eggs from a local farmer this summer when they went up so high at the store.I just can not believe it is our fault that these places close down cause we aren't going out and getting their 5.00 pens.
Exactly bellbuckletn . . . that is what is hurting the American auto industry, these unions keeping asking for even higher pay and benefits(which are above and beyond what people get at other jobs) every time they turn around and dont realize they are asking themselves out of a job.
I feel for these people that are loosing their jobs. And I pray that this town can get some solid industry here. These are tough times. At least we aren't like that small town in Ohio. 12,000 residents and DHL is closing their hub that provided jobs for 8,000. I'm guess the rest of the town was just support work for the main company.
Again...these are tough times and the pain is still coming.
What happens to the retirement paln with Empire Pincel ,Sanford had to pick up retirement plans at buy out of Berol Corp.Some of the workers left Sanford several years ago. It is my understanding from Sanford,you get the old Empire retirement plan at age 55?Does this rule still apply or do we get a settlement from Sanford? Will the workers that left Sanford get a statement explaining the retirement from the old Empire Pencil Corp. before closing of the plant?
Jaxspike,
You are absolutely right. Few people realize the inflated wages that unions demand have been a factor in the loss of profitability of the American auto industry. When times were good they found it easier to give in to the organized bullies than to risk a strike, all while the unions demanded more and more.
Benefits for the union were unreasonable. A company should never be ased to pay premiums for a spouse once the employee dies. With insurance being such an enormous company expense, it is no wonder that profitability went down the tubes.
A corporations objective is to make money for its shareholders, nothing more, nothing less.
Just go get another Job ! ! ! That's all they have to do...? Right????
Oh, no people that will not be happening either! Why not you ask ? Lazy?-NO! Good for nothing?-NO! Govt. handout system riders?-NO !
Simply put the manufacturing job base has eroded here the the USA my friends! They're all exported to China, Mexico,Thailand ect.ect. "OUR" goverment even gave tax CREDITS to Companies to move jobs overseas in the last several years!(Shocked? don't be it's FACT!)-(ok,so some of jobs go to E.Tenn in this instance,big deal) same basic law applied and led to the fall. Jobs go first, then excess Retail(Big Screens ect.) then homes, then everyone heads to the Goverment Cheese line!
So, Go get another job!You lazy bum!......again not so fast........Tyson had openings for 50 jobs a month or two ago and the unempolyment office was SWAMPED! And that was before all of this the last 2 weeks!..... For jobs at Tyson? Are you kidding me? And now we are all starting to hear the Calsonic lay-off rumors! Is it that bad? YES- YES- YES- it is!
The good people in our town & county area are just that, good quality hard working americans...that have unfortuantly gotten caught up in what is now....... Corporate-Global America..... and PLEASE don't mistake it for the country that we all grew up in (I'm 45 yrs. old)it's NOT !
Go get a job you lazy bum! .........sorry can't do that, again why you ask? Aside from the large scale changes mentioned above our local officals have seen fit to ALLOW (YES,I did said "ALLOW") huge in fluxes of ILLEGAL ALIENS from south of the boarder and taking jobs, we all know that, but none of them ever have to answer for it? Or are they doing anything to stop it? hummmm? NOW, in comes Muslim-Somalians into our area and how? Well they all work at one place,but again you can't seem to find any local city managers ect.ect. to ever answer the question of how and why Shelbyville? Again hummmmm? So they have the jobs that our American brothers and sister CAN'T have,won't be able to apply for as there are no openings for them!
Next time you see your local city manager while your standing in the unemployment line, why don't you ask him why Shelbyville, with all the influx of job takers? His answer will be the same as the guy at the unemployment office......neither one of them will answer you or your call for work! But the foreigners will pass both of you on the way to work! So, just go get another job yopu lazy bum !
WOW, why didn't they think of that for themselves! Anybody hiring? NO MY FRIENDS THEY CERTAINLY ARE NOT !
Bottom line is this..........
We all need to say a HUGE PRAYER for these people, their familes and our country! And only though the grace of our loving father we can find a way, becasue lord knows this is one HUGE MESS!
May GOD bless us all !
Silly people, please don't blame the unions.That is the Corporate Media lines that they try to feed us. Bottom lines big companies look for big hand outs,tax cuts, City & State concessions ,that where they then make their big money.........but don't believe me, just ask yourself one question and let it decide for you if Unions and labor cost run them off?
Off all of the THOUSANDS of companies that have moved their jobs overseas and now pay.......much lower federal taxes, pay No insurance, NO cost of living, have NO safety standards to have to implament and pay for at their new companies, and wages that are now pennies on the dollar from what they were....how many of them now charge you LESS for their product???? 30%,40%, 50% less? 60% less? * *NONE Of them that's how many,NONE! * * Yet they are all saving that kind of money,but not passing it along to YOU ! Them get on the ole' T.V. and you blame your brother? While thay laugh all they way to the bank ! With your money!
One simply question, one simple answer. All of them saving thousands and NONE of them passing the savings along! And you want blame a union ?
Ahhhh, only in America!
p.s.
I've got some swamp land in Florida
for sale! A Corporate Media outlet just announced it'd be worth a fotune in a year or two,I'm sure now your interested!
hmmmm small problem here Sanford is not Union, Oh wait, neither is Summit. Summit makes car parts for Nissan, Oh wait, Nissan isn't Union either. So what does Unions have to do with any of these problems?
I've lived in Shelbyville all my life (50 yrs+)and have witnessed the closings of the following: Stanley Tools, Eureka, Fly Mfg., Model Sportswear, Bedford Hosiery, Uniroyal, Watco, Eaton Corp., and many other small businesses that are too numerous to mention. Within the last month, Summitt Polymers and now Sanford have announced plant closings and layoffs, effectively eliminating well over 300 jobs. Calsonic will no doubt be affected by the auto industry hitting the skids. The lesson learned (if any) is that these companies did not get into business to create jobs. They got into business to make money, period. One of the first rules of business is that when cutting costs, the first thing to cut is labor. Still believe that increasing taxes on big business is a good thing to do? Do you honestly believe that businesses are just going to "absorb" these tax increases that eat into their profit margins? Think again. Things are going to get worse before they get better and Tyson Foods may yet be the the only game in town, and the saving grace of this community. Everyone can't work in the horse industry.
Everyone affected by these job cuts need our community support and prayer.
Newell-Rubbermaid is not Union, in fact they discourage Unions. The HR department will be extremely detailed and helpful to the employees losing their jobs concerning supplemental pay, etc. Hang in there and say your prayers. Been there, done that! Lost my employment with Sanford at the end of September, in Maryville. Does not feel good to have been put out of a job and now they are coming back with something else, and everybody will have to go through the hiring process again. However, if you get back with Newell-Rubbermaid within a year, you get your benefits back. Maybe not the rate of pay, but your benefits. So good luck to those of you who reapply when the new facilities open.
dianatn dianatn dianatn
My comment was directed toward something someone else said . . . not about the article itself. Maybe if you READ the CONTEXT of the comment and what it was directed towards then maybe you would of understood that but you were too busy looking for a reason to disagree with me just because the comment had my name on it.
No jaxspike I usually pretty much agree with you but I do not see Unions as the problem.
And I didn't direct my comment at you, You were not the only one saying Unions caused problems.
P2 (and others)
It's good of you to take this opportunity to once again blame our community's woes on the hard-working immigrant population. For starters, the decision to reorganize Sanford has NOTHING to do with the ethinicity of its workforce. There are plenty of people that are NOT from Shelbyville that will be losing their jobs, as well. Instead of lamenting the fact that times are hard and jobs are scarce, START LOOKING. True, there are more applicants than there are jobs right now, but there will always be something. Maybe not your dream job, but if you get a foot in the door and work as hard as you can, that will be recognized. As an employer, I can tell you 100% that ethnicity is NOT a factor in who gets hired. Work history, attitude, and reliability are what matters. Why do the hispanic immigrants and somalian refugees have so much better luck finding jobs? Because when they have an opportunity, they make the most of it. They are at work every day, and they will do what is asked of them. Yes, this is stereotyping. I'm sure there are lazy immigrants just like there are dependable Americans. But, by and large, we as Americans are responsible for the predicament in which we find ourselves. Ask yourself how many times you have missed work in the past six months. Oh, but you had a court date or a doctor's note, I'm sure. Bottom line is, you weren't there. Your boss will find someone who can be. And if you haven't missed any work, congratulations, and good luck at the DC.
DianaTn,
The union comments were made in reponse to the American auto industry as a whole.
The problem with anyone (not just you gottago or jaxspike) saying the Unions are a problem have no idea what Unions actually do. Unions are there to represent the employees and to make sure each person is treated fairly. Unions only ask for money and benefits at the members request. So it still is not the Unions fault that American's are greedy.
If you will read back through some of my other comments on other blogs, I have often said American's have cut their noses off to spite their faces by asking too much of companies. When any company whether it be Union or not can no longer make a profit because of the wages of the employees, the company has few options. They can either do a reduction of force, close the doors or move to a foreign country in order to pay cheaper wages. I have always said a job making a little less is better than no job at all.
But still the Union's only request what the employees want.
Sorry, I actually DO know what a union is and what it does. The statement I made still holds true and even more so with the auto industry.
DianaTn,
I do know what unions do, thank you very much and I don't approve.
To say that the union does not ask for the demands they make but members do is ridiculous. The union is simply a band of members, who have banded together to bully the very company that feeds them. They know that alone each is easily replaced (esp. factory workers, a dime a dozen, you know), but when they all mass protest the company has no recourse but to give in or risk a costly strike.
Unions did serve the purpose of fairness in the early days. Those days are gone.
there is no union in sanford at sharpie, i worked there,my husband worked there, my brother worked there,...now we have no jobs and have been lookin for quite some time,..no one is hiring unless you have a degree and other high level skills. immigrants at sanford,..lol..they are all illeagal and thats a fact. me and my husband got laid off back in july and have been everywhere running out what little gas we can afford to find a job. there is NOTHING!! my brother lost his job yesterday. to all those who have a secure jiob its easy for you to say "get your foot in the door and work hard" well it dont always work and we have tried every job imaginable, we are not picky when it comes to getting some kind of income to support our family. immigration needs to be called into every plant that is open, i know there would be jobs available then.
by the way, everyone at sandford did lose their job yesterday,..there is no work for them as of yesterday morning
Don't worry folks. Obama is gonna take care of everything. Why, I'll bet he can even feed the multitudes. Or you can go to work for his civilian enforcers group. RUMOR is they will pay 40 an hour (Gak pitooey spit). But I don't mean any disrepect to Shelbyvillians. I feel so bad about all of this. But get ready. It will get a lot worse before it gets better. And we wont receive help from other countries that we gave them. Matter of fact, Obama wants to increase foreign aid. So I guess we just have to suckit up and accept what we have been dealt.
we did not lose our jobs yet we are still working at this very moment
Unions represent the employees, period. The employees vote on contracts that are presented to companies by the Unions.If they feel the company can not pay what is in the contract they can most certainly vote it down!! EMPLOYEES are the ones who ask for higher wages and better benefits. Employees are also the ones who vote whether to srike or not. So exactly who has the control there the Unions themselves or the employees?
Understand when I speak of Unions I am speaking of Real Unions not like Tyson's Union I am talking about UAW, IBEW, PLumbers and Pipefitters Union..these are skilled labor Unions.
For what it's worth to anyone that is interested- Fujicolor in Tullahoma is currently hiring.
katzeye -
Why did you lose your job in July? It wasn't because of illegal immigrants, I can assure you of that. The two agencies at Sanford were still hiring people, regardless of ethnicity, through the summer and into the fall. If your employment ended, there was likely a different reason. I'll say it again, people need to stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for themselves. No one has a "secure job" unless they make darn sure they are not giving their employer any reason to seek another person for the position.
And your claim that "everyone at sandford did lose their job yesterday" is completely false. No one worked Tuesday, everyone returned Wednesday. Not one position has been eliminated yet, and expectations are that none will be until at least February. At the very least, Sanford is doing everything it can to help people prepare for what is coming.
Go ahead and call immigration into every factory. A few jobs might open up, but that doesn't mean you're going to get one of them. Employers choose the most qualified applicant to fill a position. If you're not being chosen, perhaps that says more about you than it does about everyone else.
why do you have to move my dad has been working there for 5 and a half years and loves it now you are moving and he will lose his job. We have been struggling every week and now you are going to make it harder for us..........!!!!!!!!!!!
jayspike, you are so rght, for more than 50 years the 'celebration ' has been for the elete.
I remember as a teenager from a poor family, you had absolutely no chance of being 'Horse Show Queen' of being crowned by the Govener of Tennessee or having Tennessee Ernie Ford showing up. Nothing has changed.
I think more than a few jobs would open up in some businesses if you called in immigration and many are not looking for the 'most qualified'. They are looking for the cheapest and easiest to bully.
Ahhhh, AreaReader, spoken like a typical employer, open mouth and insert foot!...1. "YOU BAD ,BAD American worker, missed work for court!" Stereotyping ! Your soooo funny! Your the one doing that , what I was saying before you so rudly stuck out you chest aginst the Bedford County Worker and then you get on here only to prove my point for me that you are doing EXACTLY what I said was going on! And your a boss,hahahehe!(Please excuse him folks!) was that with "THEM" being brought into the area, (No doubt by people like you!)NOW HOLDING DOWN jobs in our area, is that now these workers and their families are left out in the cold....NO help from City Officals and NO sign of help from employers like YOU!
What are good hard working people like katzeyez1979 (Thank you so much for you input & best of luck to you and all of your family !) going to do? I know you DON'T care, we get that but we do! I can tell you one thing they'd certainly better not show up at your door step for a job! huh? We didn't think so! Be on your greedly little way ol' Corporate Radier & Stealer of American Dreams! Go employ more illegals from south of the border and don't forget you tax credits and goverment perks for employing those Somilians Refugees, oh your such and Entrepreneur! You make us all so PROUD!
* * Dianatn , THANK YOU ! For again pointing out that unions had nothing to do with this ! But did they ask themselves the big question? Do the big companies pass the saving on to them?
NO-NO-NO-NO ! (People and companies like "Areareader" after saving money on thier product, charge the same or more and stick the difference in their pockets! Wow, they are so slick that thought none of us would ever know!) We'll have to think "yes they did ask themselves the question" ,but they are to ashamed to admit and realize the TRUTH! That they are backing the wrong side,again! Education ! PLEASE!
Good night and GOD bless!
P2
(yea,even you areareader!We are all looking forward to a few more laughs at your expense!)
P2 - I'm not even going to dignify most of that with a response. However, if I'm understanding you correctly, you are again implying that the lack of available employment in the area is because employers are allegedly bringing "THEM" to Bedford county to steal jobs that .
A) Employers take application from whoever walks in the door. The only exception was when a certain company actively recuited at the border - and got in big trouble for doing so. (They now employ a large number of LEGAL somalian refugees)
B) Sanford is cutting jobs due to a reorganization of the company's structure. To blame this on the hourly workers, American or otherwise, is ludicrous.
Yes, I am an employer (though not at Sanford). And I sincerely hope that everyone affected by this change can find gainful employment elsewhere. While I may come across as cold-hearted, I am simply suggesting that people, regardless of their ethnicity, take responsibility for their situation, and if an unfortunate turn of events presents hardship, don't waste too much time pointing fingers and assigning blame. There is no consipiracy. Yes, everyone is trying to make a buck. We live in a capitalist society. Employers are looking for the most qualified candidate who will perform their job most efficiently. It's as simple as that.
wow, guess I should have edited that last rant before I posted it. better yet, I should probably just get back to work. let's all just be nice to each other, regardless of ethnicity. and while we hope and pray for the best, let's also WORK for the best.
P2,
You deride businesses for trying to create a profit. You say they 'stick the rest in their pockets'. What do you expect them to do? Businesses are created to produce a profit. The overall goal is not to provide jobs (even though we realize that job creation promotes a stable consumer base, thus a stable economy). If there is no profit, or even a shrinking one, sometimes labor has to be cut to keep the business trucking.
Truth is, many workers are lazy. While I certainly don't want employees showing up to work with communicable ailments (clients either, for that matter), it is not unreasonable to ask them to work through a headache,hangover, or other issues. I do it, and many othes do it. Keep in mind the job HAS to be done, and it reduces productivity when everyone else is spread so thin covering the worker who never shows up, has perpetually sick children, or a multitude of other excuses people produce.
area reader,
We were all happy that you got back to work ! I'm with you brother, PEACE! Good luck with your daily grind!
* gottago, "Thank you!" Soooo much for the economics 101 & Bedford County employee report! At least you have the mind-set to at least respond, even when your wrong!
Much of the context that I was referring was 2 fold, first to the Union question, which this issue has NOTHING to do with at all but since most in our area have been mislead ,not to mention brainwashed by local Anti-Union employers, they seem to think any and everything is/was a unions fault,again WRONG! ( You have to deal with Unions don't you? And have done so with alot of corporation and profit for both sides,no doubt!Or you wouldn't have a sucessful business, so Congratulations to you!)
Second, an please no offense (This time) to you or areareader, but what they've and or we have got caught up in is a changing Corporate America,on a large scale, but my point was also it reaches all the way down to our local level where you and areareader are.
Sure Sanford reorgainzation was just that, Summitt, may come back ect. ect. There are just no jobs (Nationally) and Govt. tax breaks,low/NO wages, bennifits,safety conditions, dollar devaluation ect.ect. has aided in job losses nationally (by being cheaper for businesses to move operations elsewhere)to the big picture and not just that our locals are too lazy.The above mentioned items lend themselves to the shattering of thier American dream and even YOU can understand that point!
The real problem is that I believe that you, myself, and "my boy" areareader all understand this BUT the average American is still walking around with their head in the sand and it's going to be waaaaay too late by the time they figure it out,if they ever do?
Keep on Trucking! And I'm very happy that I don't have to work for you! I know we can both agree on that! Amen!
Areareader, Gottago, we'll just have to agree to disagree & even agree to some extent!
It's been fun! Take care, see ya around town!
Sorry for the employees of Sanford and Summitt Polymers. This senario is taking place throughout this entire area. Five Star Food Service of Tullahoma let go all their long term (20 years and more)employees with no notice or severance pay whatsoever in order to reduce expenses quickly, and then merged with a smaller company from Lincoln County who I never heard of until now. There was no apparent reasoning for this merger except maybe coercion or price fixing within this local area. The corporation headquartered in Chattanooga then took all the corporate executives and their families on a week long all expense paid excursion to Jamaica to celebrate what they did. What a pooor excuse for a CEO, VP and HR department. It puts me in mind of the business dealings of AIG. No one is safe.
I worked at Sanford until recently. Many dedicated, hard-working people are employeed there.
This isn't about illegal-immigrants taking jobs from "us." This is about big-corporations watching out for the bottom line in rough economic times(thank you, Pres. George W. Bush, for telling us all a few months ago everything was fine with our economy).
Many months ago a co-worker (who has been with Sanford 20+ years) told me, that by the way new-management was running things he thought we would be shutting down. Sadly, he was right.
My thoughts are with all the good people at Sanford, I hope they know this isn't because they didn't do a good job (they did a great job)!
I can only hope that MTSU does decide to come to Shelbyville so we can stop relying on factories and The Celebration and hopefully improve our town's ecomony!
yes we can -
Spoken like the ture Anti-Union, company paid mouthpiece that you are! What I hate most about these board are people like you that get to "HIDE" behind some made-up name and then puff up your chest like you know something??That's funny! I'd "LOVE" the chance to get to debate you openly,bet you'd run or better yet get a fill in,another company mouthpeice No Problem,your all alike!
Surely you don't mind me quouting you?.........
"spewing their racist, asinine drivel" ....Which is Exactly what you doing "oh company rep.!"
Even openly admitting to admiring crimnals? ,another quote........ "So anyway, keep spewing your racist garbage, but I respect and admire anyone, legal or not that come here"
Well, well anyone that disagrees with you are racist, but you admire & employ those who openly break the law????????? And you don't care???
And you have that nerve to say anything about a fellow American worker?
Samford is gone, Period! It had nothing to do with Unions,Period! Those workers don't have other jobs to go to,Period! Many would if employers like you would STOP taking in and hiring law breaking foregin nationls,PERIOD!
Would they all get to work,maybe not, but if you had anything to do with it NONE of them would ever even get a chance!
I come from the same line Anglo-European back ground, the difference my friend is that when "OUR Ancestors" made their way here they were 1. Legal 2.Skilled ! v.s. todays law-breakers that you chose to admire who are 1.Illegal 2. Totally non Skilled !
Maybe you can take 5 minutes and READ Sunday's T-G front page story with more info. about those you admire and how they are getting caught scamming the system ! But I'm the one that's wrong????????????
Your funny......real funny!!!!!!!!
Open debate.......anytime anyplace!!!!!!!!!
* Sorry to those who have moved on as I HAD, until
another open attack on myself and other hard working American CITIZENS of Bedford county!
Yes we can -
I commend you for trying to combat the small-minded, rarely coherent arguments of P2. I fear, however, that no amount of clear-headed, factually-grounded thought is going to sway this individual. Let's get back to our jobs, and P2 can get back to calling people names on the playground. To the rest of the world: please rest assured that P2 doesn't speak for all of us, and is simply stretching his or her 9th-grade education past its limit.
For the record, I'm betting it's the word "stalwart" that confused him.
I think Yes we can and P2 should stop flirting with each other and go on a date.
Yeswecan & areareader,
As expected, another personal attack on myself and while I relish in your simply minded attention, we'd simply love for you to stick to the facts! Maybe even response to a real question, where's the skill? Besides another ethnic place to eat, sorry we don't see any new skills!I guess the two of you would refer to kissing your behinds at work as a job skill?" And I'm the fool? hahaha.
"NO Response" (as expected !)when you were ask about,the story by the T-G more of the "PEOPLE YOU Admire" and why the Feds a having to put a stop to the program,due to lying they are doing in order to come to OUR TOWN,OUR Country, STEALING money and benefits (from govt. programs they really don't qualify for) ! And I'm the fool? hahaha.
Then while on here, I mention early on,what everyone else is saying..."Companies & employers ( you two!)even city management, are allowing illegls to come in a take jobs! YOUR FOOLISH ENOUGH to get on here and confirm it for everyone,oh BUT you don't stop there you go on to tell everyone how sorry American workers are while you admire those that are here legal or NOT !BREAKING THE LAW and you admire them? And I'm the fool?hahaha!
Like I said before....ANYTIME , ANYPLACE ! I'll open debate either one of you OR anyone of your company reps. you chose to get EMBARRASSED!
Because that is what WOULD HAPPEN,PERIOD! ( I'm registered on her with the paper, e-mail or call the editor John Carney, and he has my permission to give you (yeswecan or arearader) my number or info. and you can call me ANYTHIME!)but he'll have too release your names & numbers to me as well, and unlike you I will call if he ever notifies me that you ask for it, if nothing else just to see what companies in this town has low enought standards to hire mouthpieces like you two?) Oh, yea, the same ones who'd look the oher way that's who!
I don't even have to get on here on company time or call a buddy to take up my fight, the TRUTH IS THE TRUTH! Looking the other way by the likes of you,city management,yea even the Feds and your companies are PART (only PART) of what has gotten us to this point.And I'm a fool? No I'm a racist,right?
Let me guess by your standards, if I don't agree with an Obama policy or position then I'm a racist!hahaha!
Feel free to unleash another personal attack since after confirming evething else earlier that I mentioned was going on in this town, that's all you've done.You have nothing else to say!
Maybe you can call over one of "THOSE THAT YOU ADMIRE SO MUCH" and they can answer for you since you can't and they are soooo skilled !"
*Here's a positive productive idea,the two of you should schedule an emergency round of golf to talk about this! Or just TiVo Dr.Phil,maybe he can help the two of you figure out how you got to be so Anti-American and supporters of people who break federal laws and steal from the country??????
And Idiots like you wonder why the OB department at the hospital is now closed? I guess the hospital is racist as well? Oh NO uninformed one, it's because "THEY" don't pay their bills, but there I go again making up stuff?Right? No, facts are the facts!
ANYTIME-ANYPLACE!
The rest of you drive on,keep laughing at these fools and have fun in life,I know I will!
I resent Americans being lumped into one category of laziness.
Sorry, but I have been working consistently for over 30 years and most of the people I know have also. I don't see masses of Americans just skipping out of work for the fun of it.
I have also been paying way too many taxes and I don't appreciate them going to healthcare/food stamps for people who are not Americans and who apparently don't want to fit into the American culture which was created by all immigrants trying to fit in. Even if these refugees are working, my taxes have to be paying part of the Govt program for them to be brought over.
I am not racist and I do not have a problem with immigrants who want to actually adjust and not degrade or take over.
Stardust !
You tell them! It has nothing to do with being racist and everything to do with being an AMERICAN !
Better yet how do you feel when "SOME" members of mamagement in companies in "our" area get on here and admit to admiring them and looking the other way????? Makes me sick! And they have the nerve to call me names? What else could they do,they NEVER bothered to answer any direct quetions that I put to them!
Having served in "OUR" military and defending our country I'm a proud AMERICAN, paying taxes ect.ect. is all part of it,but to have "others" come in here, steal from our Govt. programs meant to help Americans in need and then get jobs handed to them when lawfully they should be here in the first place, and then throw in "So called Americans?" to get on here and put down the american worker in our area and admire law breakers is appalling.....be willing to bet neither one of them served in the military?
(has nothing to do with being racist or american, that part has to do with BREAKING the LAW!)
And for the record for any and everyone following this discussion........."NO" they won't take me up on my offer of an open debate......ANYTIME or ANYPLACE!
Stardust, your fellow workers and Americans "Thank you!"