What I do know is my dad's experience. My dad was in the Navy when he and my mom met. They had a whirlwind courtship that involved meeting each other somewhat accidently (a neat story for a different day), becoming engaged unbelievably soon (like, within the week!), and him heading back out to the deep blue for months while they got to know each other through letters. (Again, a fascinating story for another time.) I'm not sure of the exact timeline, but before I was born, he had left the Navy and they returned to CT from Norfolk, VA, and my father took a job with General Motors. Throughout my childhood, my dad worked in a couple of plants/warehouses, and I never really knew much about what he did, other than he worked crap hours and like a dog. He lifted heavy things. (I'm pretty sure a bumper fell on him one time-- while he was on a ladder? Or maybe that was a different thing... I'm sure he'll correct my memory!) He worked insanely hard, and he instilled in me a healthy questioning of authority, as in foreman was a dirty word.
Then came another word introduced into my childhood vocabulary-- layoff. I have no idea how many of them there were, but I do know that it wasn't easy. I remember having a picture of my dad getting handed dollar bills in a work-cafeteria-type-place while he was working at an auto body shop, because I had heard the phrase under the table used to describe his income. Through all of it- strikes (another word I learned, along with scabs, those people dumb enough to cross a picket line!), layoffs, years of night shifts, long commutes- he worked hard at his job. His health suffered because of the 32 years of manual labor- perhaps a shorter working lifetime than many, but no office worker or corporate bigwig pushes his body as hard as my dad did.
After 32 years, he retired. He stuck with this seemingly solid institution, doing work that I can't imagine he declared to be his life's dream, always with his eye on his family. It was a steady income (except for those layoff times), and a pension that wouldn't support him fully after retirement, but would certainly go a long way. Since his retirement, he hasn't stopped working, and he currently works two part-time jobs, to supplement his pension income. He's seriously the hardest worker that I've ever met. He taught me to take pride in my work and to always perform to the best of my abilities, without ever any explicit instruction, but simply through example. I'm not sure which is greater- my love or my respect for him.
So, that brings us to the here and now. His vision and dental insurance coverage is ending in a few months, and the extent of his medical coverage is in question. I really don't know how the agreements or non-agreements of today's news directly affects him and other retirees, but I know that I'm scared for my parents. With the shift it seems our country is going through away from industrial work, what does that mean for a 57 year old man who worked the vast majority of his life in this industry? This man who stood on his feet for 32 years, working so hard that overtime became the norm, is now going to be without adequate coverage at a time when his medical needs are increasing?
Sure, there's obviously something messed up with the system, but regardless of all that, it hardly seems fair to me that this is his reward after 32 years of beyond loyal service. The values of our society are completely whacked when the backbone of our production industry-- the actual freaking workers-- gets little or no support after their service is complete.
I don't know what there is to do now, although my dad did send a letter to President Obama last week that brought me to tears. I feel like I can only hope and pray that my dad and mom will be okay.
Thinking that hard work deserves rewards,
Oh Dawn, my heart goes out to you and your parents. What a challenging and scary time. It just doesn't seem fair, especially for those like your dad who have (and continue) to work so hard.
ReplyDeleteIt's painful, isn't it? And unfortunately, too much was promised to too many. And no one can afford it. At least he HAS health care coverage -- or did. So many others have been cut already where you have to buy it on your own after retirement. And teachers will be next. Unless and until we can start to ratio care (amongst other things), affording coverage in retirement is going to be an issue for anyone who retires before Medicare comes in. And even then.... ugh.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping you'd write a post about this. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteMy folks are visiting and my Mom's comment was "I'm glad your grandparents don't have to go through having their health insurance taken away." My grandfather worked for GM as well although not the decades your father did. It was a great blessing to them to have this coverage when much later in life their medical needs were great. Something just has to give on this country's health system. Just absolutely broken but we are often so nationalistically blind to the fact that some other system might be better, we fall prey to the arguments of those benefiting from the status quo. Hopefully today is different and we will get real change in this area so it isn't such an existential threat to folks like your folks.
ReplyDeleteI have really strong opinions on this situation, but what I can say for sure is that I'm so sorry your Dad is being "rewarded" (HA :( ) this way for all of those years of labor and service for this company. {{Hugs}}
ReplyDeleteI hope the whole country learns from this, so that by the time it's OUR turn, we don't get our own flavor of this mess.
Along those lines, I pretty much view Social Security at this point as money gone - at least I can console myself by thinking that at least is supporting my Grandma...
If I ever said this out loud to your Dad he'd punch me but you're not the only one who learned about hard work from him. I was always, and continue to be, amazed at what your father put up with, subjected himself to, and endured in the name of family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI'll always remember two things most of all--
first, the commute your Dad suffered through - 90 minutes there, 90 minutes home - in order to let you guys live in an affordable, safe and beautiful community. Yes, beautiful, no matter how much I make fun of your having a cow at the end of your road.
second, the fact that while your Dad was grieving at the loss of his own father, hosting a beautiful party in Papa's honor (what other kind of party would your Dad be a part of right?), he was running around collecting cash from other union guys to support someone who had either been laid off or suspended for some reason. That, to me, is the essence of your father - selfless to a degree I've never seen before. To worry about someone else in a time when he had every right to focus on himself and his family (but since when has he taken time out for his feelings right?) taught me so much about doing the right thing.
So, now when we're having another argument about how sometimes I forget to do work around the house because I've spent the whole day helping someone else at their house... you can point your finger straight at your Dad... and say thank you.
I just wanted to chime in with my heartfelt feelings of wishing things were different, admiring your family ties and hoping that the strength of character that has seen your family through before will continue to give hope and attract love and support from others.
ReplyDeleteVA benefits? your pop should look into it (if he hasn't already). they aren't the fastest system, but they have decent benefits.
ReplyDelete-nek-ed