End of the line

[MoonCat]

I keep starting & then deleting this thread. It's that hard to put into words, and I don't want to write a wall o' text.

They want to outsource our work. There are three possible outcomes:
(1) I lose my job. May or may not get a pension enhancement if they buy us out.
(2) Everyone who wants out, goes, and those of us remaining take whatever job they agree to find for us elsewhere in the company - at reduced pay, of course.
(3) We all stay, but our hourly income goes down, our incentive/commission plan gets scrapped, and they may also acquire the right to lay us off if they deem it necessary, or at the very least to make us all part time instead of full time. We will also have to pay any increase in health insurance - and it increases every year.

Fact: I can't afford to retire. I have 17 years left on my mortgage.
Fact: I'm 59 and don't drive (that will not change). Finding a new job that will replace my income is very unlikely.
Fact: If I lose my job, I will lose my house.
Fact: This is making me physically ill.

Any way you look at it, my income will drop, and I have no idea how to replace what I'm going to lose.

There, I said it. Please pray to whatever deity you honor because peeps I'm going to need it like never before.

[EricKei]

Well, f@#%. o_O Sent one up for ya

In the meantime -- About all you can do is update your resume and start looking ASAP. Maybe there will be positions open nearby that are accessible that will get your bills paid. That, and looking while you're still there lets you negotiate from a position of strength, and will generally be less stressful for you because you won't absolutely NEED something right away.

[TheSHAD0W]

Horrible as it is, I'd recommend looking at what it'd take to sell off the house and excess furniture and switch to an apartment. It may be premature but working on it now will prevent a lot of scrambling if the worst case happens. I also second Eric's suggestion to seach for alternatives now. Maybe the horse will sing.

[notalwaysright]

Yikes. I'm sorry that's happening, MoonCat. I have no advice, but I'll be thinking of you.

[MoonCat]

Horrible as it is, I'd recommend looking at what it'd take to sell off the house and excess furniture and switch to an apartment. It may be premature but working on it now will prevent a lot of scrambling if the worst case happens. I also second Eric's suggestion to seach for alternatives now. Maybe the horse will sing.

I could probably go back to NACA, the organization that helped me buy the house. They may have advice, or things they can do to help. But my mortgage payment is around $500/mo. and most rents around here are $600-$700 and up. If I can't make the $500, how am I going to pay even more if my income goes down?

[cindybubbles]

Are you eligible for E/I (employment insurance) benefits? See if you are eligible and if so, apply as soon as you hear an unfavourable outcome.

[MoonCat]

Are you eligible for E/I (employment insurance) benefits? See if you are eligible and if so, apply as soon as you hear an unfavourable outcome.

No idea. I will have to look into that, thanks.

Next bargaining session is in two weeks. I suppose I'll know more after that, assuming mgmt is prepared. They tend not to be.

[MoonCat]

Bad feeling about the meeting tomorrow.

[Pixelated]

Crossing my fingers for you ...

[MoonCat]

Meh, meeting turned out to be just an update on bargaining. No real news yet. Mgmt drags their feet every year (yes, we bargain every year now). I got scared because my CW "Wanda", who has been involved in the negotiations, kept offering to drive me home after the meeting (it was only half an hour). I started to think she knew something bad that was gonna come out at the meeting. I dunno, maybe she thought I'd have a meltdown and need help getting home

There will be more news to come. I'm still betting mgmt will up the pressure soon (health insurance enrollment deadline, holidays coming up, end of the year, end of the fiscal year, pressure from Very Rich Man who owns the business...who knows)

[Pixelated]

Glad to hear there's no bad news ATM. That's the worst thing about that kind of situation: everything starts to look ominous, including something like an offer of a lift home!

[MoonCat]

More bargaining today. Our side has given mgmt a proposal. Now we'll see how serious they are and how much thought they've actually put into this.

Thank god I have an appt tomorrow with my therapist. That woman helps me put things in perspective.

[MoonCat]

Well, they finally dropped the other shoe.

They're back to "we want them gone."

My choices now are (1) Take the shitty severance along with 9 months of paid healthcare.
or (2) Take whatever job the union can negotiate for me elsewhere in the company.
(2a) There's a possibility - a very small one - that they might want one or two people to stay on to liaison with the company that takes over the work.

There are probably only 3 or 4 of us who want to stay. Or should I say NEED to stay. Frankly every day I go to work makes me angry, irritated and frustrated, but the fact is I NEED to work. I can't afford to retire. Severance is something like 48 weeks of pay but after taxes? I'd be lucky to have 6 months' worth of wages left.

So, yeah. Welcome to 2017.

[morgana]

I'll keep a candle lit . . .

[Shyla]

I'm sorry your company is ending the jobs. I understand your being angry. I wish I knew the right choice for you. If you stay, even with a different job, at least you know where you're working and that you have insurance. If you take the severance, you have 6 months to make job hunting your full time job. I hope they at least do the details soon so you can make an educated choice.