well it's been a month now since I lost my job.......

[MAD6Gun]

 Was fired on March 9th. I  have since been in touch with my lawyer to see if I can sue them for retalitory fireing. According to my lawyer and a second opinion from another I do not have a case. Since Indiana if a right to work state that they can fire you for NO reason.  I have decided to look for something different to do.I am tired of wrenching. I have been a GM dealer tech for over 30 years. I am tired of busting my ass taking tests to better my ability to repair the ever increasing complicated technology on the new vehicles just to get every difficult job that comes in the door. As a result turning less than 40 hours every week. Flat rate SUCKS. Unless you are a gravy dog or dishonest enough to sell work not needed. I am not one of those techs. Never have been.

 I have yet to receive uneployment compinsation. Still on hold. I have enough money to pay bills for a little while now.  I have applied for several jobs. Nothing yet. Including a couple of car restoraton shops. I would love to work there. No flat rate and doing what I love to do. Working on classic cars. Anyway thats what new with me......

  In hindsight I should have just payed for the damage and kept my job. But I stood up for myself when a bully manager tried to strong arm me to pay for damage that should have been covered by the shops insurance. But it all good. I can no longer work for someone who would treat his employees like this.

Oh and if any of you want to leave negative comments on my situation,DONT. I don't want to hear it. Keep it to yourself...

[GiG]

Oh and if any of you want to leave negative comments on my situation,DONT. I don't want to hear it. Keep it to yourself...

Good advice, Mark.
You should practice what you preach.
Word DOES get around, you know... 

[Hook#3287]

MAD6Gun, as someone already mentioned on earlier posts, when one door closes, another door opens.

I bet, in 6 months, you'll look back and figure that getting canned was the best thing that happened.

Be proud you stand for your principles, sounds like you have the right ones.

Good luck.

[cookiedough]

best of luck finding a new job. 

I know how that goes as do most others at one time in their lives.

Try not to get too down and discouraged since it may take several months up to 1 year (hope not) to find another decent job.  Its a tough market out there in most areas, but would assume your field should be a tad easier to find another job at a dealership who hopefully treats you fair and just.

keep your chin up! 

[Crackerborn]

I don't know if it is something you want to do, but with your knowledge around the wrench, have you considered opening your own shop. Start small and add the big stuff as needed when the money is available. Good, honest mechanics are hard to find (at least in my area of the republic).

[MAD6Gun]

Oh and if any of you want to leave negative comments on my situation,DONT. I don't want to hear it. Keep it to yourself...

Good advice, Mark.
You should practice what you preach.
Word DOES get around, you know... 

 You want to tell me WTF you are talking about.....

[DDT (12)]

MAD6Gun, as someone already mentioned on earlier posts, when one door closes, another door opens.

I bet, in 6 months, you'll look back and figure that getting canned was the best thing that happened.

Be proud you stand for your principles, sounds like you have the right ones.

Good luck.

Mark, principles won't put food on the table or pay the rent, but the rewards are still there... something you obviously already know! We're all proud of you for standing tall, even when it hurts... Good luck, man... we're all pulling for ya!!!

DDT

[bassman]

Do you have All Tune and Lube shops in your area?  We have them around here and I've used them with satisfying results .  Generally do good work at a fair price.  Have used them for several years after my vehicles where out of factory warranty.  Perhaps apply for a job there?  Believe they are a franchise - maybe get one of your own?  Have no idea of the work conditions, pay, benefits or how they might be in your area.

[Rams]

Did you ever contact the Indiana Dept. of Labor?

If so, I'm surprised things didn't go your way...............

Best of luck in your search for new employment.

[solo1]

Mark, you probably shouldn't have asked for no negative comments.

I, too, have a  negative comment but I won't list it here.  It goes back to the CBR.  You know what I'm talking about.  Keep it to yourself.

Hang in there!  You did the RIGHT THING.

[John Schmidt]

Mark, my hat's off to you and the stand you took. Many years ago I went through much the same thing, and with a family to feed it was a rough time. We survived but it cleaned out all available finances and then some. Looking back, I wouldn't have done it any different. I did apply for Compensation and at first was denied because I was supposedly fired for insubordination. I suggested they dig into that a bit further, which they did. I got my Comp. and I found out later the super that fired me got fired. Then one day I got the satisfaction of a life time.....I saw him in the Comp. office making application. Talk about karma. 

[Patrick]

I too can understand your position and why you did what you did.  I like folks with integrity. I hope things work out.

[Jersey mike]

Mark, I don't know you except from here, but I understand the stand you took and I applaud what you did. Principles are worth standing up for but they never come at a time when we want them to especially when it comes to taking money off the table.

I wish I could give you a quick fix answer to solve the work problem but I don't have one except don't give up on being yourself. Be true to yourself, keep your chin up and don't look back, put it all miles behind you.

I wish you all the best going forward.

[czuch]

"The right thing isn't always easy, but, its ALWAYS the right thing".  Pa Czuch
I have wondered what I would do in a like situation.
Frankly the new cars mistify me and raise my blood pressure. Sensors and computers freak me out.
I would advertise, "Pre 73, bring it to me".
Simple, affordable, if you drop the wrench its gonna hit the floor.
People love their older cars but don't want to pay gobs of dough to get a simple brake job.
Dealership,,,,,,,,,,gaaagh.

[old2soon]

Mark ifin you couldn't stand the little sumbitch ya done the right thing. The next step had you stayed was to punch the little crap out. While THAT would have been more satisfying the legal ramifications would have been killer. Maybe starting your own 2 bay shop MIGHT be the answer. Got a guy here in town with a 5 bay shop 2 extra mechanics his wife doing the books and they STAY busy 5 days a week every week. This guy started in a 1 bay shop. And-yes Mark-I KNOW your situation is unique to you. Build a following in Classic Restoration and you SHOULD be golden!   C-ya at I-16!   RIDE SAFE.

[wiggydotcom]

Mark, I respect your integrity and your decision. I wish you nothing but the best in your future endeavors, wherever they lead you. Good luck!

[crow]

This situation is what's wrong with right to work States. Last contract, my company wanted language in the contact that said, " we reserve the right to terminate employment at any time,  for any reason, or no reason ".   I'm all for firing for cause, but for no reason, WTF!!! 

[Jess from VA]

The pay is probably not what you're used to, but what about teaching auto tech at various places (community colleges, vocational schools)?

[Dave Ritsema]

Hang in there, you stood up for your principles and sometimes that is something we just have to do.
The right to work law really protects the employers, pretty much if you can't prove they fired you for your age, religion, ethnicity or gender you don't have much of a chance.

Regarding your unemployment, I imagine the manager is just being a turd and not turning over the appropriate paperwork to the state. He has a window that he must do this and if he intends on blocking you from unemployment he has to have a compelling reason that will have to be reviewed and can be contested by a judge. If he does nothing after a certain period of time, (I think it's 10 weeks) you automatically receive the benefits and they will be retroactive to when you first became eligible.

Good Luck! Your a smart guy and I am certain something better is coming down the line for you.

[solo1]

The pay is probably not what you're used to, but what about teaching auto tech at various places (community colleges, vocational schools)?

Very good thought, Jess.  I've talked also to Mark about this.  On the surface, the pay might seem less but if he's not getting 40 hours/week flat rate then a smaller per hour wage at a full 40 hours might work.   In addition, no wear and tear due to impact wrenches, heavy lifting, working under dashes,  piss poor salesmen arseholes doubling for general managers, etc.

My hat is off to master techs. It is not an easy or well paying profession.

[_Sheffjs_]

After mechanical jobs then custom furniture building I moved to Facilities Maintenance Management. First a 25,000sf building and now a 92,000sf City of Sarasota building.  

I have 0 school after HS and it has done me well the past 18 years.

Just a thought as you said you are thinking something different, being mechanical is the key for this type of work.  I started as a helper and in one year took the role of Supervisor 18 years ago. Computer skills, Word, Excel, Visio etc. is what I feel moved me into middle management. I now have been offered the next step up as my boss is retiring soon however, I have no interest in more City meetings!       Good Luck

  

[saddlesore]

   The world can take many things from you but they can't take your integrity.  The only way to lose your integrity is to give it away. 
   You've given up nothing.  Good luck in the future. 

[Ratdog]

Tried posting your resume with "Indeed" web search for jobs?  I did recently, not only did I land a job applied for, but was getting hits from places I wasn't even looking at.  I landed a part-time gig in another field when the owner did a search for former/active LEO and found my resume.  With a little training/testing, I'll be going after my WA State Certifications as a Driver Training Instructor and Examiner.  Something else to fall back on.  Never would've dreamed of looking at that, had I not been contacted by that company owner.

[MarkT]

All you need is your principles, flexibility, work ethic, some common sense with a few smarts, and a good attitude that your best years are ahead of you.  I've worn a lot of hats in my lifetime, worked hard to be the best I could be at each one, and always made a great reputation in each endeavor.  The pay varied but I was usually happy at my work - actually strived to enjoy the work, not to just put in the hours so I could go do something else at the end of the day.  Go do what you want to - the car restoration thing sounds like a great gig.  Love to do that sort of thing myself.  But I'm my own boss here, get to challenge my brain once in a while, am beholden to nobody, can go do things like the GOTF without asking the boss. All of that really pays off in the quality of life, even if I'm not rich.  I can pay the bills and buy toys now and then.  Go for it.

[Tonysax]

 I was in the same boat around two years ago. After 26 years at the same place I was shown the door. I always identified who I was by where I worked. Keep positive, make your job finding a job. Use indeed.com. I found something after a month. At 50, it was a challenge starting over, but now I am happier, learning a lot of new technology and making almost the same money. I do miss the 6 weeks vacation. There is life after {your former company}.

[Karen]

Delbert McClinton said it better than I ever could... "You ain't lost nothin' that you can't do better without..." You kept the important stuff, the truth will out, always been a new door open for me when an old one closed. I expect you will collect eventually, Good luck, Mark, keep the faith!

[Oss]

Your dad is right (again, kind of is a lot isnt he)

But you set yourself up by saying No negative comments

That was DUMB my friend and you should just Take the hit for putting your foot in your mouth, we all do it  I know thats what RJ would have said to me. In fact he HAS said it to me a few times.  

Smile because you have many blessings and go on living your best life
with Twila.

My prediction is next year at this time you will be wondering what the fuss was about as you are doing what you were meant to do

Oss

[art]

Right to work is BS, that's why I support the unions. In over 50 years of working in the machinist trade 90% was union I've always had a good paying job and worked hard for it. As soon as I moved to a right to work state it was all down hill from there. Low pay and could be fired for any reason including if the boss was having his monthly problem. I did get fired in the end because the boss was an idiot at certain times of the month. I decided to retire. On a happy note the boss was fired a few years later   Went Working during my families growing years I could support them ,have a house ,two new cars and a RV. on one pay check, try that today.  I'm with you,you did the right thing and I hope you do better in the future.

[fudgie]

I think you did right for sticking up for what was right. Had to be tough. 

Good luck on a career change. I bet it is also tough. If all else fails you still have wrenches to fall back on.

I know all about takin test after test. I have to have 60 hrs for my State and 72 hrs for my National every 2 yrs. Plus certain certs/ requirements. Seems like I'm never home. 

[Alien]

Hang in there man.  I used to get irritated at people who would say things like "Everything happens for a reason" but I have come to realize that things really do tend to work out as they should.  It sounds like you were ready for a change anyway, although I'm sure you would have preferred different circumstances.  It's my bet that you'll look back on this in a year and be glad for the direction it pushed you. 

Ride Safe,

Alien

[MAD6Gun]

 Well I called the manager of that car restoration shop this morning to follow up. They filled the position. I am bummed but life goes on. Oh well the search continues........