Michiana's Jayco slashing jobs as local economic woes continue
Michiana's Jayco slashing jobs as local economic woes continue Save Email Print
Michiana one of hardest hit lay-off areas in the nation.
Posted: 8:15 AM Dec 9, 2008
 Last Updated: 3:42 PM Dec 9, 2008
 Reporter: Joel Schipper
16 comments
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The Jayco Corporation plans to close its Entegra Coach subsidiary in Wakarusa and move production to its Middlebury plant. The closure in February will eliminate at least 134 jobs.

Jayco also announced last month it would close its Starcraft trailer plant in Topeka, about 40 miles southeast of South Bend.

Meanwhile, a new Manpower survey released this morning shows the employment outlook for the South Bend - Mishawaka area is one of the weakest in the nation.

Only 10% of the South Bend - Mishawaka area companies interviewed plan to hire more employees from January to March in 2009.

12% say they will be making payroll cuts which could mean lay-offs.

74% expect to maintain their current staff levels...

4% of the companies say they aren't sure of their plans at this time.

Some of the hardest hit industries in the coming months probably come as no surprise. Of the employers surveyed: construction, transportation & utilities, financial, leisure and hospitality, and government jobs are expected to be the most in danger.

Meanwhile, job prospects appear best in professional and business services, education, and health services.

The job outlook nationwide isn't much better than here at home - of the 31,800 employers surveyed in the U.S only 16% expect to increase their staff between January and March.

13%t expect to reduce their payrolls.
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Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 10, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Here is one factor left to the waste side. What about the children with divorced parents or parents that were never married. There are alot of the Village Idiot's (mother or father) that are working in the RV industry who have most likely lied and cheated their children while their income was on the upside. Now that these people are working 3 day work weeks or not at all, what are their children supposed to do for food and shelter. The deadbeats can march into the family court and demand a reduction in their financial obligations to their children and get it...but what happens to the kids?? There are many less than desirable jobs out there..may with less benefits, maybe less than desirable working hours, etc. The people affected by the RV industry have to come to terms with the fact that without an education under their belt, they will most likely NEVER make the income that they were making prior to the meltdown. Mike, I could not agree with you more!
Posted by: Red Location: Nappanee on Dec 10, 2008 at 10:10 AM
I have worked in the RV Industry for many years both in the office and worked on the factory floor for 25 years. I'm blessed and thankful for both jobs. My point is white or blue collar we can't survive without the other!
Posted by: CC Location: Goshen on Dec 10, 2008 at 09:58 AM
If our goverment keeps bailing out companies(printing money)our country is headed for a depression. Compaines must be responsiable,greed has taken over. Let them fall they will start up again under a new ownership. We can't keep throwing good money to bad habits. What has happen to being responable? Taking ownership? Seems as though today we reward bad...God help us
Posted by: paul Location: Nappanee on Dec 10, 2008 at 06:57 AM
to Todd.you white collar people are all alike.Who do you people think would do the blue collar jobs if everybody had a collage education.I worked in rv production for 30 years,and if you think that it't easy worrk you are crazy.
Posted by: todd Location: goshen on Dec 10, 2008 at 03:33 AM
to Mike: yes i have worked in both and RV and Trailer Factories (Travel Supreme & Dutch Housing for Summer Jobs) so i know what i'm talking about. also, please explain to me how people out of high school don't have every opportunity to go school - student loans were/are available - i took them and just paid them off. i'm sick of people saying they couldn't afford school - BS - with student loans & working part-time people could have afforded school BUT their priorities were messed up and NOW i have to come and pay taxes to help them - how does that work? where is my hand-out? i don't have kids and have saved my money - no fancy car, etc BUT was responsible and still have seen the whole world. AND i despise unions - they have killed American Manufacturing because they're GREEDY - they serve no purpose anymore and I wouldn't employ union workers EVER. that is what has gotten us in this whole mess GREED. not the President but GREEDY People making horrible decisions.
Posted by: Reality Location: Earth on Dec 9, 2008 at 09:16 PM
mimi, there is a big difference. Rv workers are not part of a union. Most Rv places are paid by a percentage of the total sales, not by a union or by the employee demanding a certain amount. We don't have high dollar robots doing the work while we stand and watch. Most production workers earn what they make. I am sorry you are so bitter towards someone working for a living.
Posted by: Anon on Dec 9, 2008 at 09:15 PM
To Todd: I agree with you. I have read post after post on this website complaining about how an education would do a person no good because of excuse after excuse. People got out of high school and thought it was great that they could make a decent salary without an education and now have absolutely no desire to educate themselves to find other work. It is all up to the government to fix this situation right? I mean, forget about the money that is being thrown at the laidoff workers to go back to school. I read an article that quoted a man as saying that he shouldn't have to go back to school to get a job. What a joke!!!
Posted by: Chaz Location: South Bend on Dec 9, 2008 at 08:33 PM
Except mimi, no auto worker makes $70 an hour. They make about $37 when you factor in all of their benefits. You only come to $70 if you include the benefits paid to the retirees as well. The only people making $70 are the ones in the office that will benefit most from the bailout.
Posted by: mimi Location: mishawaka on Dec 9, 2008 at 08:06 PM
I couldn't agree with you more, Todd from Goshen. It's no different than the auto workers thinking they deserve $70 an hour to put together cars on a factory line. We can thank the mighty union for the fall of the economy.
Posted by: Mike Location: Sturgis, MI on Dec 9, 2008 at 07:59 PM
In response to Todd. Shame on you to pass judgement on people who may not have been fortunate to go to college to get an education. Did you stop and think that maybe they are doing all they can do to support their families? At least they did not start out relying on the government for their well being. Who are you to say Rv workers have had it to easy? Have you ever worked on an RV assembly line. We do not have a nice air conditioned office in the summer to sit back and drink our coffee and browse the internet when we feel like it. Obviously there has been a big demand for RV's for over 40 years, so it is not like it was an overnight sensation that has come and gone. There are many other jobs that are overpayed for the service they provide. I did not see your opinion on the auto makers! If it was not for high gas prices and a failing economy the RV factories would be going in full force. I do agree with illegal immigrant issue.
Posted by: cc Location: Goshen on Dec 9, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Why doesn't the RV get a Bailout from the goverment??? Look at what the RV Industry has done for Indiana.
Posted by: The cook Location: Goshen, In on Dec 9, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I was trained in culinary to be a cook and a baker, but the with way everything is going, it's gonna be hard to find a job in a good decent resteraunt. So for me to go back to school to gain more training might be pointless right now.
Posted by: todd Location: goshen on Dec 9, 2008 at 01:21 PM
question - did a lot of people think they could get out of high school and just work in a RV Factory the rest of their lives making an inflated income that does not represent what they can actually do? i mean i think a lot of factory folks here have had it way too easy making too much money for what they do thinking everything will be fine with maybe a family AND the towns & schools spent WAY TOO much money thinking the same thing and now look where we're at - not only do we have to take care of our own - there's this issue of Illegal Immigrants mooching off of us too. who is gonna stand-up for the people and common sense...if anyone thinks that's obama - get a clue people - get a CLUE!
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 9, 2008 at 01:05 PM
The credit crunch is going to suffocate our habit of excess. Your best bet while things were prosperous was to be responsible and plan ahead as the economy does not stay on the upside FOREVER.
Posted by: Luecke Equals Useless on Dec 9, 2008 at 12:04 PM
This is what happens when you have an area of welfare handouts and not enough tax base and city leadership not committed to substantial growth.
Posted by: Used2wrkinWaky Location: Nappanee on Dec 9, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Wakarusa - soon to be known as the GHOST TOWN

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