The company I work for is at it again

G

Gossman Knives

Edged Toolmaker
Joined
Apr 9, 2004
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I work for a grocery chain that was family owned and considered an icon of the state of Maryland since the mid 1930's. When the owner died it was sold to a Netherlands owned grocery conglamerate, Royal Ahold Corporation. Since they have taken over more jobs have been eliminated then I've ever seen in my 28 years of working there. They are in the process of outsourcing all outside grocery operations such as trucking, manufacturing and warehouse operations. They have since sold our bakery, milk production, soda production and now they have eliminated 500 jobs by closing the frozen food warehouse ice production, ice cream production and dairy. I can't believe the way our no. 1 company has been torn apart but such greed and incompetence. :grumpy: Fortunately they are putting all their resources within the stores and my job is secure for now. I've got 2 years to my guaranteed 30 and out and I'm praying I'll make it. With the way companies operate these days, no job is secure. :(
Scott
 
Hang in there Scott
I have a feeling these big companies will eventually self destruct, and things will end up back to where they were with the family owned operations.
My dad went through the same kind of stuff working for SBC. They ended up making him retire last year. It was earlier than he'd planned but he's a lot happier than he has been in years.
 
Matt Shade said:
Hang in there Scott
I have a feeling these big companies will eventually self destruct, and things will end up back to where they were with the family owned operations.
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I think Scott will be okay, but I worry for the other people working there that don't have the seniority. As for the big companies self destructing, I wouldn't count on it. Like for it to happen, but wouldn't count on it.
 
Yeah, unfortunately ...what happens these days is ....as (mis)management drives the company further and further into the ground, they pay themselves huge 'bonuses', loot the retirement fund, and finally declare bankruptcy. And all those people who put in their time waiting for 'retirement' are s.o.l.

Hopefully that won't happen to you.
 
I am lucky in that i've almost got my time in. I work for the UFCW local 27 and I at least have a pension and severance coming. It's sad but the unions are to blame for the situation we're in. The warehouse workers and truck drivers are in the teamsters union, but as you can see it didn't help them. The UFCW has just let the company piss all over them and now people can make more money working at McDonalds and before anyone says union wages are the reason grocery prices are high, this is not true because the prices are up and the wages are down for any new workers that come to work for Giant Food now but then that's a whole other story in it's self.
Scott
 
Kinda sounds like wal-mart

Every check I write to them is written pay to: "walmart the Evil empire"

Haven't had a raised eyebrow yet :)

Tony
 
You'll be fine, Scott. That many years, and a Union man to boot. They'd have a helluva lawsuit on their hands if you got ditched now. Ride it out, brother! You can do it! :)
 
jhiggins said:
You'll be fine, Scott. That many years, and a Union man to boot. They'd have a helluva lawsuit on their hands if you got ditched now. Ride it out, brother! You can do it! :)
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Thanks for the incouragement Jeff. That's what I plan to do. In the meantime I putting 100% effort into my knifemaking business hoping when I retire from my regular job to go fulltime making knives. I spend just about all my spare time devoted to knifemaking. Hate to say it but hunting has to take a back seat for awhile. I still get out and hunt, just not as much.
Scott
 
Scott I can imagine how you feel but I think you're okay too, security wise. The company I work for installed a new CEO a few years ago and since then it's been fire fire fire and outsource outsource outsource. I really despise that guy, I feel like he's taking a fine old company and making it into a stockholder's prize - at the expense of customer and employee loyalty of course. That's all part of the plan because management all gets paid most of their total compensation by stock options. Even Forbes thinks he pays himself too much!

They've let a few people with 17 years just hit the door. And here I am with 15 years and 10 or 15 to go... At my age I'd be f'd if they ditched my position, and I don't think knifemaking would support my debt load! :D I'd end up working at Borders for minimum wage and losing the house and everything in it. And management would get a nice yearend bonus! Jerks.

Good luck man and hang in there. I think you're home free.
 
Thanks Dave. It's pretty rough out there in the job market. I feel so bad for my son. It's tough trying to find a good paying job that will allow him to be able to make it on his own. :( The cost of living is so darn high anymore.
BTW, a truck driver delivered a load the other nite and said 126 drivers will also be out of a job when this crap is finalized. When will it end? :confused:
Scott
 
I went to work for myself in repair about 20 years ago and never looked back.. had no say in it..
never got rich but still I am :) I've enjoyed no one man on my back.
and now I have one per knife :D

I know what you mean by the yong ones now
my olist graduated colage today 6 years :eek: dang I hope trhat boy gets a good job... :(

good luck to ya Scott ... btw my boys name is Scott too. :)
 
Thanks Dan. I wish your son well in finding work. I wish I could have helped my son a little more but being a one income family has been tough. I'm a very proud father and have worked hard to provide the best I could for my family. It's got to be hard for the people that have invested so much of ther lives working for a company to put out like that. I feel really bad for them but it seems the big corporate world doesn't give a hoot for the proud working man. That's such a shame for a country that was built by hard working Americans. :(
Scott
 
Scott,
That sucks! F***ing Bean Counters put me and around 100 others out work at an IBM spinoff company in 1998. I had just closed on a new (more expensive) home in October of that year. Then they cut every single middle management position in November. I was 38 and unemployed for the first time in my life. But, a new home with all the bills and a wife with two great kids inspired me to start up my construction and remodeling business. I knew this busness well since I put myself through school working for several General Contractors for many years. Since being self employed I have somehow always managed to meet my obligations. Not getting rich mind you, but since I call the shots on when and whom I work for, it allows me to take the hunting and fishing trips with my family that I never enjoyed before. And, that to me is worth way more than money!

Hope you're situation improves for you soon. Your work ethic and moral fiber are evident from your posts on BF and I suspect that is exactly what has carried you through to this point. Keep your head down and God speed brother.

Best,
Anthony
 
Thanks sunnyd for the kind words of encouragement and thanks to everyone else for their support. I have confidence I'll get my time in. I've always tried to be positive and give 100% effort in everthing I do.
Scott
 
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