Monaco Coach ends deadline for massive cut-backs.
Monaco Coach ends deadline for massive cut-backs. Save Email Print
The RV maker ends its 60 day deadline for job cuts
Posted: 7:30 AM Sep 17, 2008
 Last Updated: 7:48 AM Sep 17, 2008
22 comments
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This could be the final day of work for some employees at Monaco Coach as today is the deadline for those massive cut-backs - and those displaced workers aren't alone.

Since January thousands of Elkhart County RV workers have been laid-off from companies like Monaco, Keystone, Flexsteel Industries, Newmar, and Dutchmen Consolidated Plants.

But now the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County is pitching in with some valuable information on their website. They recently added a new "workforce assistance" section with links to a wide variety of resources for employment, education, training, and financial assistance in the county. www.elkhartcountybiz.com

There is information available on anything from résumé building to educational grants.

There is more help on the way from the state. Recently Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels announced the state will get $10.4 million dollars to help displaced RV workers through training programs to help them find new jobs.
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Posted by: Jerry Location: Mishawaka on Oct 6, 2008 at 04:07 PM
The sad part is this has happened so many times before just not to this scale. The big difference there was before were these company's were locally owned so they didn't bail they just got through it. This time Company's like Monaco that are leaving won't most likely come back. The sad fact of the matter is thought our economy in Elkhart and some surrounding counties rely so much on the RV / Mobile home idustry it's going to suck. But the other facts are opening and running a business locally isn't easy either every turn you have Township, County, State, Federal Taxes and so on not to mention Insurance that has just gone crazy. The reason why these company's move to other states rather than stay are Tax driven. There are states were business's don't have to pay all the extra's. It's not that we don't pay our fair share but Indiana gets you coming and going. You will see more jobs lost and all Mitch is going to say is we have money to retrain. FOR WHAT JOBS MITCH THERE AREN'T NEW ONE'S.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 4, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Ok. Anonymous from Nappanee: The Village Idiot that I am referring to works at Forest River and brought home 1,100.00 a week and based his lifestyle on that income and is now crying wolf. He basically screwed his children over by lying to the family court system while the income was there and now that it is not, he expects sympathy! I am sure I am not the only custodial parent in this type of situation! These deadbeats are able to make a good bit of money in "bonus pay" and are able to beat the system unless the custodial parent has the financial means to hold him accountable. I guess the Village Idiot found out that my husband will not rest until he is held accountable for his children. AK and NK your logic, morales, and and basic humanity is as flawed as it can get!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Nappanee on Oct 2, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Try feeding a family of 5 (three teen-agers) with a 40 hour check that brings home $515 a week. That is WITH bonus...Basically bonus goes to pay your taxes and health insurance...That is about what Monaco people were bringing home at 40 hours...
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 1, 2008 at 10:27 PM
It seems as though people have lost sight of a very important statement that was posted on here. More than half of an RV factory employee's check was in the form of a bonus. Bonuses are just that..."extra pay". I know that we are a society that lives in excess! There should have been some financial planning while the "bonus pay" was abundant. The employees standard of living should have been based on the 8-9 /hr not the 19 or 20 /hr(bonus pay). This mentality is why many people are in the financial predicament that they are. People took on debt in amounts far greater than what they should have....just because a bank says they will give you X dollars does not mean that you should! Now people will be forced to live within their means and live frugally;which they should have done from the get-go. Just some food for thought on a Wednesday night!
Posted by: Chris Location: Argos on Sep 22, 2008 at 06:41 PM
I hardly make $300 a week and i support two children by myself so don't talk to me about having things tough. Your whining because you lost some money? Maybe if you knew what it was really like on the bottom then you would have a little better understanding of what bad REALLY is. I've had nothing for several years so my kids can have something i know what its like to pay for child care i do it every week. I don't have to imagine. lately things have actually been better. I work in advertising and that is directly involved with the economy. So if things were really that bad i wouldnt be working. and if you had jobs that were as good as what it sounds like they were why did you not save up a cushion? Sounds like you brought some of this on yourselves
Posted by: guy Location: indiana on Sep 22, 2008 at 06:29 PM
If it took you a year to find a job maybe you should look at yourself and not the economy
Posted by: Anon on Sep 21, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Chris you must have a job so you have no clue what it is like to be without one. It is very hard to get a job out there right now since so many people are unemployed. I lost my job a couple of years ago and it took me a year to find another one. I sent out at least 100 resumes and finally found another one. In the meantime my husband had to take a pay cut of $15,000.00 a year so needless to say we lost everything. Our home which we worked so hard for. So unless you are in a situation where you do not have a job keep your opinions to yourself. The economy is bad just open your eyes and see how so many people are struggling out there. Struggling mom hang in there and hopefully your husband will find something soon. My prayers are with you.
Posted by: former stay at home mom Location: south bend on Sep 20, 2008 at 09:22 PM
Chris- The economy sucks, that is what is wrong with it! If you had to try and plan your budget around a job that is $200 to $300 less PER WEEK, you would understand what this mom is talking about. I know, I am living it too. I had to go out and get a job, luckily for me, my mom does not work so I do not have to pay child care. If I did, it wouldn't be worth it, child care is expensive. I can understand why so many people are on gov assistance. I looked at one place, they wanted almost $160 A WEEK for ONE child, toddler age. Imagine if you have two or three kids! We always know that in the RV industry that things can go up and down, but when they nose dive quickly it makes it really hard to not struggle!
Posted by: chris Location: argos on Sep 18, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Ok so i made an incorrect assumption and for that i am sorry but to the same token no i don't feel sorry for you or anyone else it would'nt help if i did. If you really think anything is bad now it could get much much much worse so whats so wrong with the economy right now?
Posted by: K Location: Elkhart on Sep 18, 2008 at 07:10 AM
I too lost my office job, not with an RV supplier but with a medical office whose clients were mostly Work Comp patients...That was over 2 months ago and I'm still without a job.
Posted by: Struggling mom Location: Elkhart Co. on Sep 18, 2008 at 06:17 AM
I might also add that we are maximizing our Internet usage in other productive ways, such as taking full advantage of the online resources through which to find employment. My husband has turned up some very promising job leads via his online search, which would not have been possible otherwise were it not for the Internet.
Posted by: Struggling mom Location: Elkhart Co. on Sep 18, 2008 at 05:52 AM
I had a suspicion that it wouldn't be long before someone came along, all prepared to condemn our current living situation, and Chris from Argos proved me right. Chris, just so you are aware, I DO have a job - I am a freelance writer, and the reason that we have Internet access is so that I have a means through which to transmit my work, which is all done via e-mail. My small earnings are what we are using to live on for the time being. If you are suggesting that I take on an additional "outside" job, the wages I'd be eligible for in this area now would pretty much be canceled out by the cost of gas and day care for my 1 year old son. But thanks SO much for your empathy and understanding. I'm sure ANY one of us in like circumstances would welcome the opportunity to show you what we are dealing with on a daily basis! I strongly suggest you keep an open mind, because not everyone shares your sentiment that there is "nothing wrong with the economy."
Posted by: chris Location: argos on Sep 17, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Struggling mom maybe you should shut off the internet? you know save some money there, the internet doesn't fall under the vail of "the barest of necessities" and maybe just maybe YOU could look for a job then to instead of writing about how bad you have it. There isn't really anything wrong with the economy people just aren't prepared for a little downturn even though you know it happens alll the time. It doesn't matter who is in office its consumers and it will happen again and again until the end of time its a pattern.
Posted by: Steve Location: here on Sep 17, 2008 at 06:50 PM
The one thing that is still overlooked is the majority of an RV workers check is bonus.Most places pay $8-9 an hour and thats what the unemployment scale rates you at,not regarding anything above that,and therefore will not be expected to take another job that pays anything more than that,especially after going through "training programs".
Posted by: Steve-O on Sep 17, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Praise Jesus. I love You Lord
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 17, 2008 at 02:01 PM
I think that it is about time that Elkhart and the state go out and find companies that have nothing to do with the RV industry. So when gas prices hit 6.00 these people would still have jobs
Posted by: Struggling mom Location: Elkhart Co. on Sep 17, 2008 at 01:52 PM
Suzanne is spot on correct. The economy in general is hurting EVERYONE, not just the RV industry. While I am completely sympathetic to what is happening with Monaco, Newmar, and the other larger companies, it is also affecting those whose jobs seemed secure. My husband is an electrician, and in the past two weeks, he has worked a whopping 12 hours, which means that he is not yet eligible for unemployment, since his schedule is sporadic and his company won't officially declare him unemployed. We've already spent our emergency savings just to keep food in the house, the lights on, and the water running - just the barest of necessities for ourselves and our young children. Now our funds are nearly depleted, with no hope in sight that his company has any plans to bring him back. He's out looking for work as I write this, but it's been a real struggle for our family, and for many others, too, I'm sure. My heart aches for those of you facing similar circumstances.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 17, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Yes, Thank you very much Suzanne! I was one of those that got laid off of my OFFICE job. The company I worked for is a supplier to the RV Industry. Now I may lose my home and everything!!!
Posted by: Suzanne Location: Elkhart on Sep 17, 2008 at 11:05 AM
There has been other comapny's affected because of the down turn to the RV Industry like the suppliers. We hear very little about that
Posted by: mark on Sep 17, 2008 at 09:27 AM
a website with a bunch of hype is great but i bet those affected would rather have a job and get thier bills paid etc than a bunch of words on some website. will they have financial help while attending these touted training programs? if not, what is the piont?
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