Job Outsourcing

[Pepipony]

Looking to the stockmarket as a measure of what is happening is like looking to Tiffanys. Your average Mr Blue collar worker doesnt shop at either and they are the middle class. Least they used to be.

I live rurally so naturally the way things swing happens here first. Metropolitan areas have a built in system that we do not. Our largest employer here, a power plant, has just stopped it retirement program for new hires and has dropped their pay by nearly half. They hire less people as well. So now you have no new employees paying into retirement plans for those retired or eventually retiring. What will happen in 20 years when there are many on retirement but not a penny going in? Easy, they will somehow get rid of that expense and leave those people high and dry. Of course they will not be lowering prices AT ALL even though the cost is less. They will however be paying each other ( CEOs etc) massive bonuses each year. Morals are gone. So now these new hires will be lucky to afford a decent house around here.

Jill, thats great about where you live, but that isnt where the majority of americans do. No wonder so many people dont see what is actually happening. Guess its like Global Warming, so many said it wasnt happening and now they see that it is. Probably too late at that. Probably too late to save the middle class as well. But then again those in power dont care, they still earn their pay FOR LIFE for a job they may have only done for 4 years :no:

 

[Jill]

I'm sorry that we disagree and I guess we should both hope I'm the one who's right :lol:

Personally, due to the global economy, I don't feel there's a tremendously glowing future for Americans in unskilled jobs. I will give you that in terms of workers being out of jobs.

Additionally, to think that only upperclass people, or mostly upper class, invest in the market is just not the case. And, most Americans do have some money in the market in one form or another (through 401(k) Plans, through mutual funds, etc.).

It's been a trend now for nearly 20 years do do away with defined pension plans, which is why so many Americans have 401(k) plans, and why we have stepped up limits on our IRA contributions, and the option of Roth IRA's if you don't make "too much" to contribute. Most aware people figure they will be funding most of their own retirement.

I'm middle class and am comfortable and maintain that MOST people are in the middle class. I don't think that most people are or will be at the poverty level with a few extremely wealthy and no in between.

 

[Pepipony]

Jill, I do so hope you are the one that is right. Just wish that what I and others all around pointed to that fact. My greatest fear is that in the coming decades those that worked their lives for the promise of a retirement pension learn that their CEOs decided they wanted that money and tough tookie to the employees. As for stocks, yes, many people do own them, however as reported the majority of stock isnt in their hands, it is in wealthier hands. So, just because its doing great, doesnt mean blue collar workers are as well.

 

[Jenn]

I think outsourcing will end, or slow down, when unions get thrown out. I can't remember which auto maker it is, but one of them HAS to pay $64/hour to its workers because of unions. Want to know why new vehicles cost so much? It's not the materials, it's the labour.

With that kind of crap going on, it's no wonder domestic auto companies are looking at moving their plants into Mexico and/or overseas.

But hey, I live in Canada - we're booming, housing starts are WAY up, and we're importing workers as fast as we can to fill the "unskilled" labour positions our own people no longer have to do - stocking shelves, fast food, etc. Yes, we're a VERY wealthy nation. Oh, and we have free health care.

 

[Pepipony]

I am no fan of unions, however, hubby is in one. I can see both sides, workers NEED unions because the employers do not pass on the buck to them. See my 'no morals' quote earlier LOL As for the $64 an hour, I would need to see proof of that, I dont doubt that you read that, its just that it sounds a bit high. I do hope that unions dont go away, we need them. However I do wish the need for them wasnt there. When Reagan sent the air traffic controllers back to work when they were on strike, it cut the unions power off at the knees. Hubbys jobs contracts are not being followed by his employer, which they did agreee to, they just dont care. The unions cant really strike, they will be sent back to work. The employer has lost lawsuits that stated they had to pay per the contract, but they dont anyhow. Its not uncommon for him to be paid for a job he ran 3 or 5 years ago. Would love to see a CEO wait a few years to be paid.

Wish we had free health care :no: Sad that we will provide it to other countries, but its to 'socialist' to give to the people that pay the taxes so those other countries can have it. Completly wacko that is. Wish employers hacking away at benefits, health insurance is soon to be another house note for many.

 

[Jenn]

Wish we had free health care :no: Sad that we will provide it to other countries, but its to 'socialist' to give to the people that pay the taxes so those other countries can have it. Completly wacko that is. Wish employers hacking away at benefits, health insurance is soon to be another house note for many.

I just can't imagine living in the states right now, or ever ... not only do we, as Canadians, get free health care, but most employers have excellent benefit plans that cover the majority of dental, prescriptions, massages, chiropractor, psychologist/psychiatrist and usually also throw in some life insurance. I believe my husband's plan covers us for 80% of all dental and prescription costs and for massages etc. it's up to $500 per year per person.

A lot of employers also offer retirement savings plan where they will match your contributions up to a certain amount each year.

 

[Jill]

A lot of American employers offer similiar types of savings plans -- a 401(k). It's actually a form of a profit sharing plan and most employers "match" up to a certain amount of employee contributions.

AS an employer, I cannot imagine if we "had" to cover our employees health insurance. The result would be fewer employees!

And, I would not like to see the USA go to a socialized medical care system.

I'm sure I've just got one popular opinion after another

:

: :bgrin

 

[lvponies]

I've worked for AT&T for almost 20 years. It used to be a wonderful company to work for...good benefits, good pay etc. A few years ago they outsourced the work I was doing and in our organization about 300 good people lost their jobs. I was one of 8 that was retained. We have since merged (been taken over) with SBC. Our benefits this year are awful. In essence we have to pay these high dedectibles before we get any benefits at all. We never have that much expense in health care per year, so we have nothing in the way of health insurance. Retirement isn't there anymore. This year instead of the company matching 66% of our 401(k), we will get AT&T stock instead. We got an email just before Christmas that they will be reviewing everyone's pay scale. Guess we'll be loosing our pay too. All the folks that got laid off were given decent severance packages and 60 days of pay. Come this November, if we get laid off, we have no guarantee of getting anything at all if we're terminated. Maybe a week's notice? Maybe not. Maybe it would have been better to already been laid off. At least we would have gotten something for all our years of service. On the other hand......Past CEO's of our company (who weren't here very long at all...a few years maybe) are receiving a million dollars a year in severance pay + millions in severance packages. I may not receive anything at all.

 

[Cathy_H]

If they are going to outsource they need to get people that can speak english the way I understand it........... I recently told one person that I was going to hang up & call again in HOPES that I could get someone that I could understand.. I get tired of asking them to repeat themselves or to slow down as I absoultely cannot understand what they are saying half the time.

 

[Pepipony]

I've worked for AT&T for almost 20 years. It used to be a wonderful company to work for...good benefits, good pay etc. A few years ago they outsourced the work I was doing and in our organization about 300 good people lost their jobs. I was one of 8 that was retained. We have since merged (been taken over) with SBC. Our benefits this year are awful. In essence we have to pay these high dedectibles before we get any benefits at all. We never have that much expense in health care per year, so we have nothing in the way of health insurance. Retirement isn't there anymore. This year instead of the company matching 66% of our 401(k), we will get AT&T stock instead. We got an email just before Christmas that they will be reviewing everyone's pay scale. Guess we'll be loosing our pay too. All the folks that got laid off were given decent severance packages and 60 days of pay. Come this November, if we get laid off, we have no guarantee of getting anything at all if we're terminated. Maybe a week's notice? Maybe not. Maybe it would have been better to already been laid off. At least we would have gotten something for all our years of service. On the other hand......Past CEO's of our company (who weren't here very long at all...a few years maybe) are receiving a million dollars a year in severance pay + millions in severance packages. I may not receive anything at all.

:no: Sad just plain S A D Dont know how people cannot see how this effects everyone eventually. Seems that with the schooling these CEOs etc get, they would figure out that this isnt the best thing to do. Sometimes I think that very schooling wittles the common sense out of them and replaces it with the buddy system, they take care of each other. I am SO NOT against schooling, I am just against the loosing of good ol common sense.

There was a comment about Unions and how much some workers made. I didnt think then but quite often, payroll is the cheapest expense companies have. Yet payroll is what they point to when they want to make cuts. Let me rephrase, employee payroll is what they point to, they dont point to their own.

 

[miniluv]

I had the same problem with my Dell here at work and our computer guy gave me a number that is in Alabama so I don't have to talk to India----haven't had to use it for quite awhile, but you guys can give it a try!! 800-822-8965 x 86008

Hope it still works, didn't have time to try it from work this morning!