Hey Phil, something to think about,

[Fieldmouse]

Don't think for one instant that anyone except for CI and maybe Falcon believes they can't loose their job and/or replaced tomorrow. Not a dig at either of you twoonly the fact your retired. Many of us already have seen and/or know the writing on the wall. Your job isn't permenant and you can get fired and/or let gofor any fricking reason.

I had already asked you a question that went unanswered and maybe you didn't read it. I asked you if you got let go today, how many people could step right in and take over? I also mentioned you have been replaced by inovation more than outsourced. I want an honest answer. 15 years ago when you had about 8 years under your belt, how complicated was your job? How much did the company rely on your knowledge and experience to run your press? Now how much of that job is now controlled by a computer, isn't it? That vast knowledge you built up got replaced by silicon and that's nothing new.

Fact is, every single one of us faces competition. From the janitor to the CEO. We all are expendable and replaceable. Just look at the folks running Bud. They are in a take over situtation. If that happens, the upper management will be looking for new employment. Your situtation is nothing new but if you take on the challenge head on, you can make it intothe best thing that could have ever happened.

[Champlain Islander]

I worked for the same fortune 500 company for 34 years although it was split up by the government in 1984, bought, sold and merged a few times. Did I see any difference over time with job security ...you bet. The people who benefited the most were the ones that could react to change. There were departments that over time and with technology changes became obsolete. Some people hung in to the bitter end and were either riffed or assimilated in to a lower tier job because they couldn't react to change. Most of these people were on the older side and were just riding it out as a form of the fabled 25th year malaise that seems to crop up with many workers. The younger employees expanded their opportunities through education and cross training because they could see the hand writing on the wall. When I got to the 27 year mark I could see that I was being sidestepped for important assignments in my management job. The jobs and duties were being given to the young and up and coming stars who would provide the leadership of tomorrow. I realized that I was looked at as one of the best but also viewed as a short timer since I was closing in on 30 years and an earlyretirement candidate. Perception is everything especially in business and I felt that I needed to change it if I wanted to continue to be at the top. Up to that point my whole career was spent in the servicedepartment as a technician and then in various management jobs within that same sector. I took a leap of faith and asked for an assignment in management within the engineering department. I was the subject matter expert in the service department since I came up through the ranks and was one of the few that really knew the work. In engineering I was surrounded with MIT graduates who knew engineering but not a lot about the entire telecommunications aspect. It was a perfect fit and I learned from them and they benefited from my working knowledge. Our department prospered and my standing continued to grow. My last 7 years in management were rewarded with some of my best raises and bonuses and more important I knew I was at the top of my game. That move to react to a dwindling opportunity at the 27 year mark put me in position to walk away after 34 years at age 53 and set for life. Some of the people who didn't change are still there and grinding out their work, are viewed as dinosaurs. Theyare miserable and still working for the man. Change is good if you don"™t fight it. Life is a balance however, and decisions on work and opportunity need to be bashed against your personal life. I chose to remain in Vermont through my whole career, a move which certainly cost me opportunity for advancement. I determined right from the beginning that it was most important that I remain in state but make the most of what was offered here. I have never been sorry. Quality of life is more important than more money.

[Phil from Maine]

You are correct I see the writing on the wall but, as C.I. pointed out the quality of life is more important to me. I see the fact that we may make it another 5 years here or perhaps 10 at the most and I am hoping for the later as then I would be almost in the clear for retirement. By that I mean I can draw from the former company while working for less until I can draw from the company I now work for. ( It really is the same but do to a buy out the books read 2 different companies..)

Change is happening all the time here at almost adaily routeen. DoI like it ? Not really when you see so many loosing thier jobs. If I was let go today they would have some difficulty filling my shoes right now. As a matter of fact with an older work force sickness right now is causing them a harder problem than theyhad dreamed of right now. Downsizing has and is hurting all including the company to some degree.. Can we be replaced? you bet yah we can but not on a days notice. Alot of it is controlled by computors and that is a fact but manual labor still exists as a computor can not do everything. Computor cards are always breaking down with the moisture involved in the work we do. Then how would they get the place up and running? I will quarrantee you not by pushing buttons alone.

Some things come up where the company creates problems as well. We work on a machine made to put out 600 ton a day, we are putting out of it not only the 600 ton a day that it was made for but a whopping 1300 plus tonsa day. We currently are running the best opperation of our kind in the country with over 94% up time. When they try changing and old machine to new technology.. well it's like turning a model T into a corvete.. Somethings doesn't like to change, I can remember a few years ago they tried to change some screens out for a new updated type. Guess what happened? You may find it hard to believe but we couldn't run them and with all the money wasted they had to go get the old ones that had been trucked out. But the biggest problem I have with the computors is that I am color blind and we always run into some contrast issues..

Today we are lucky to still be running but with green power (hydro) at the plant it's a big plus. As well as the deepest shelterd peer on the east coast that is around 45 miles south of us. Those 2 things are most likey 2 of the biggest reasons we are running. We will be out of work with the help of KAFTA if nothing is done to change the way this country has sold us out. Competition against coutries that do not care about the safety of thier workers or the environment leaves not big corporation any choice but to leave dodge. With my spirit and my quality of life here I will ride this train until it is out tho.