HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-01-22, Page 7While the announcement byWescast Industries last week that it
would close one of its foundries in
Wingham was certainly not
welcome, it didn’t come as a big
surprise to many.
There had been signs for some
time that the downturn in the auto
industry was impacting the
company. And while the Jan. 14
announcement carried with it the
largest number of layoffs, Wescast
had been cutting staff for some time.
Jason Van der Meer, who had
worked for a decade in the machine
shop was let go on Oct. 31. “I got my
10-year certificate a week before I
got my pink slip.”
Van der Meer said staff has been
on “pins and needles for a year. At
the time the Canadian dollar was
forcing work to the new facility in
China. Customer orders were
dropping and there were no new
orders to machining here.”
“They are calling this a temporary
layoff, but they have laid off enough
people that I don’t anticipate being
called back.”
Van der Meer and his wife Patty,
have three small children and are
paying for a home they purchased
five years ago. He is currently
collecting employment benefits and
while Patti works as a personal
support worker at Huronlea,
considers his options.
When he began at Wescast, the 33-year-old admits the pay and benefitswere a big attraction. However, asthe company struggled withchanging markets and a challenging
economy, morale on the job began to
change too. “They were realigning
products to meet customer demand.
There was a lot of changing shifts
and responsibilities.”
Van der Meer worked nights for a
time, then afternoons. “There were a
lot of stresses on the family.”
“Him being out of a job right now
is actually less stressful,” says Patty.
Van der Meer admits that the
situation is helped because his wife
is working. “This is not bad for us
right now. But there are a lot of
people at Wescast, a lot of spouses,
who are getting laid of
simultaneously and that has to be
scary.”
Benefits, of course, don’t last
forever and Van der Meer has been
been giving his employment future a
good deal of thought. He considered
re-training, but said while there are
many opportunities most were quite
difficult to get involved with.
“The government only approves
certain schools and while they would
have given me money if I was going
to leave home and rent a place while
I attended school, they wouldn’t give
me the money if I was going to
travel.”
“Also,” said Patty, “you’re at the
mercy of their start up dates, so if
you don’t have all your ducks in a
row in time, you’re out of luck.Jason couldn’t have things ready intime for the January start.”Which is now leaving Van derMeer to consider his skills and
whether or not he can market them.
“I have extensive finishing carpentry
skills so right now I’m intending on
starting my own business.”
For now, he’s enjoying this time
with his children. “I missed a lot
when I was working at Wescast.
Factory work can take its toll, but I
would never have left that security.
The wages and benefits made it
worth sticking it out. I’m looking at
this as an opportunity for change.”
While Patty joked that the story
might be different in April, she
prefers optimism. “I believe people
who are frightened now will look
back in three years and realize it
wasn’t as big a deal as it seems now.”
Her husband agrees. “I choose to
look on this as an opportunity rather
than a pitfall. I think it’s important
for people finding themselves out of
work to stay focussed, positive and
re-evaluate their skills. I believe for
all of us, there is life outside of
Wescast.”
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2009. PAGE 7.Machinist considers ‘life after Wescast’
Looking ahead
Though no longer employed, Jason Van der Meer, recently
laid off from Wescast Industries after 10 years is trying to
stay positive, looking to the future and enjoying the time
with his children, Tyler, Julia and (pictured) little Ella. (Bonnie
Gropp photo)
By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen
John Kerkhof liked the challenge
of a new career. For several years as
a young man he tried his hand at
everything from sales to
construction.
Fifteen years ago, he took on
another new job in a different field
and worked his way up to a position
that he enjoyed more than any other.
Kerkhof was a lab technician with
Wescast Industries at the North
Huron foundry.
Last week, Wescast announced it
was closing one of its two Wingham
plants, the one located on Amberley
Road just east of Wingham. And
while Kerkhof would now find
himself back on the foundry floor at
the Water Street foundry, he was not
among those who no longer had a
job.
“I loved what I did,” he says of the
job that involved analysing a number
of materials and doing micro-
structures of castings every four
hours. “I really enjoyed my job and
I’ll never see that again.”
Kerkhof’s wife Pauleen said that
switching to different shifts again is
going to be a big change for the
family too. Also, a cut in hours is
going to mean a change in the
paycheque too.
Yet, they both realize that they are
among a fortunate few.
Kerkhof said that while there had
been rumours that the plant might
close, there had also been a sense of
optimism right until the staff had
been called into the cafeteria, Jan.
14. “They had sounded positive
about the future.”
Now, suggestions that the closure
might not be permanent don’t raise
much hope in him either. “That may
sound positive, but in reality they
would have to ramp up the other
foundry to full capacity before that
would happen.”
Both Kerkhofs feel that the
company is as much a victim as the
employees. “Wescast is not to blame
in any way for this. This is just the
way things are with this economy,”
said John.
What has to be accepted, he said,
is that the auto industry is definitely
not what it was, and may be a long
time coming back, if ever. “They
said at the meeting that they weren’t
selling the new plant and I laughed,
because no one would buy it
anyway. There are lots of empty
foundries in North America.”
Kerkhof said he is grateful that he
still has his job to go to but admits
that change at this point in his life is
a bit difficult to handle. “I’m 53
years old. I sustained an injury that
still affects how I walk. I was
working in a lab and now I’m on the
floor.”
The idea of looking elsewhere,
beginning somewhere new is rather
frightening for anyone at mid-life.
“My options are limited. Yet,
retirement is still a long way off.”
Man happy to be working, but ...
Carrying on
While John Kerkhof, here with his wife Pauleen, has been fortunate enough to have held on
to a job after the recent announcement by Wescast of layoffs, the closing of the North Huron
foundry at the edge of Wingham is going to have an impact on their family. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
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