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| 'Things have come up great - in the end' | 'Things have come up great - in the end' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| By Dan Bell BBC News Job losses loom in the recession Redundancy is always a huge blow when it is forced upon unsuspecting workers. Here, factory and manual workers tell how they have fared after losing their jobs. | By Dan Bell BBC News Job losses loom in the recession Redundancy is always a huge blow when it is forced upon unsuspecting workers. Here, factory and manual workers tell how they have fared after losing their jobs. |
| On Monday four white-collar workers explained how for them it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing them to follow their passions (see link on right of this page). For others it can take a long time to find a silver lining. | On Monday four white-collar workers explained how for them it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing them to follow their passions (see link on right of this page). For others it can take a long time to find a silver lining. |
| FROM MINER TO CARE WORKER | FROM MINER TO CARE WORKER |
| "I was in the farms to begin with, then I went to the colliery for 15 years, during the strikes in 1984," says John Dunlop, 50, of Scotland. I didn't have any experience at bricklaying or painting, so it was very hard being laid off at my age John Dunlop | "I was in the farms to begin with, then I went to the colliery for 15 years, during the strikes in 1984," says John Dunlop, 50, of Scotland. I didn't have any experience at bricklaying or painting, so it was very hard being laid off at my age John Dunlop |
| "I was a face worker - it was actually in the face where the machine cuts the coal." | "I was a face worker - it was actually in the face where the machine cuts the coal." |
| The worst thing, he says, was the coal dust that got into his lungs. | The worst thing, he says, was the coal dust that got into his lungs. |
| "All you did was work in the pit at that time, so you didn't have any experience at bricklaying or painting, so it was very hard at that age." | "All you did was work in the pit at that time, so you didn't have any experience at bricklaying or painting, so it was very hard at that age." |
| But for the past five years, he has looked after elderly people with various forms of dementia. | But for the past five years, he has looked after elderly people with various forms of dementia. |
| His change in direction was a long time coming. Having been made redundant in the late 1980s after 17 years as a miner, he spent a long time out of work. Soon after he lost his job, he also lost his marriage. "It was hard," he says simply. | His change in direction was a long time coming. Having been made redundant in the late 1980s after 17 years as a miner, he spent a long time out of work. Soon after he lost his job, he also lost his marriage. "It was hard," he says simply. |
| He eventually picked up a variety of jobs, including at a bottle factory packing alcopops. It was very heavy work, and he was made redundant within a year. | He eventually picked up a variety of jobs, including at a bottle factory packing alcopops. It was very heavy work, and he was made redundant within a year. |
| Help the aged | Help the aged |
| "Then I noticed a lot of jobs going within the care sector." While he didn't get a placement at first, "I kept trying and I kept trying and then I was successful". You feel when you come home that you've done something, just to see a smile on their face John Dunlop | "Then I noticed a lot of jobs going within the care sector." While he didn't get a placement at first, "I kept trying and I kept trying and then I was successful". You feel when you come home that you've done something, just to see a smile on their face John Dunlop |
| What tipped the balance was caring for his gravely ill father - who had bowel cancer - at home. John realised he wasn't embarrassed about the intimacy of the work, and so could help people maintain their dignity. | What tipped the balance was caring for his gravely ill father - who had bowel cancer - at home. John realised he wasn't embarrassed about the intimacy of the work, and so could help people maintain their dignity. |
| He embarked on training and shadowing care workers in 2004, and now is a care assistant at Bute House in Cumnock in Ayrshire. | He embarked on training and shadowing care workers in 2004, and now is a care assistant at Bute House in Cumnock in Ayrshire. |
| "It's a totally different environment altogether, I feel great working with people. One of them is a big tall feller and he's very hard to shower, and I managed to get him into the shower - that was one of the best things I've done." | "It's a totally different environment altogether, I feel great working with people. One of them is a big tall feller and he's very hard to shower, and I managed to get him into the shower - that was one of the best things I've done." |
| And a month ago, he and his partner of 14 years - and her daughter and grandson - moved in together. | And a month ago, he and his partner of 14 years - and her daughter and grandson - moved in together. |
| "Things have come up great. We've all got jobs at the end and it's good, you can come home and there's dinner." | "Things have come up great. We've all got jobs at the end and it's good, you can come home and there's dinner." |
| What would he say to people who have lost their jobs and are trying to work out what to do next? | What would he say to people who have lost their jobs and are trying to work out what to do next? |
| "I would tell them they can help their community, to get into the care sector. You feel when you come home that you've done something, just to see a smile on their face." | "I would tell them they can help their community, to get into the care sector. You feel when you come home that you've done something, just to see a smile on their face." |
| FROM ENGINEER TO LETTING AGENT | FROM ENGINEER TO LETTING AGENT |
| After losing his job as an industrial engineer at Rover, Sean Kendall, 38, from Birmingham, is now pinning his hopes on property. If I had my time again, I'd have learnt a trade - but not in manufacturing Sean Kendall | |
| "It was obviously devastating [being laid off] because you've got 5,000 people out of work at any one time, looking for anything you can get." | "It was obviously devastating [being laid off] because you've got 5,000 people out of work at any one time, looking for anything you can get." |
| He went to recruitment fairs put on at the company, but in the end found work labouring with his mate for six months, followed by another six months fitting air-conditioners. | He went to recruitment fairs put on at the company, but in the end found work labouring with his mate for six months, followed by another six months fitting air-conditioners. |
| "You're not happy doing it, but if you've got a mortgage and kids, you'd do anything wouldn't you? Well I would." | "You're not happy doing it, but if you've got a mortgage and kids, you'd do anything wouldn't you? Well I would." |
| There was also impact on the community as his friends and social life centred on the Rover factory.He also works part-time at Cadbury's | There was also impact on the community as his friends and social life centred on the Rover factory.He also works part-time at Cadbury's |
| In 2006 he went to work at a Cadbury's factory, was laid off after 11 months but has since returned three days a week. The rest of the time he concentrates on the property management agency he has started with his mother. | In 2006 he went to work at a Cadbury's factory, was laid off after 11 months but has since returned three days a week. The rest of the time he concentrates on the property management agency he has started with his mother. |
| While he received about £7,000 in insolvency pay, half went on paying for the company car he had previously driven as part of his job. | While he received about £7,000 in insolvency pay, half went on paying for the company car he had previously driven as part of his job. |
| "If I had my time again, I'd have learnt a trade - but not in manufacturing, the way the manufacturing industry is now." | "If I had my time again, I'd have learnt a trade - but not in manufacturing, the way the manufacturing industry is now." |
| Is there light at the end of the tunnel? | Is there light at the end of the tunnel? |
| Whether his circumstances improve depends on the success of the letting business. | Whether his circumstances improve depends on the success of the letting business. |
| "If you could foresee the future, then this country wouldn't be in the mess we are in now." | "If you could foresee the future, then this country wouldn't be in the mess we are in now." |
| FROM MECHANIC TO RAILWAY MAINTENANCE | FROM MECHANIC TO RAILWAY MAINTENANCE |
| Four years ago, aged 50, William Mills left the Rover plant at Longbridge after 29 years. Rover cars wait to be scraped after the plant's closure | Four years ago, aged 50, William Mills left the Rover plant at Longbridge after 29 years. Rover cars wait to be scraped after the plant's closure |
| With savings in the bank and no dependents, Mr Mills felt he had more of a safety net than many others. And he found a job within three months as a railway track maintainer - a period covered by his final pay from Rover. | With savings in the bank and no dependents, Mr Mills felt he had more of a safety net than many others. And he found a job within three months as a railway track maintainer - a period covered by his final pay from Rover. |
| However, it was difficult time. | However, it was difficult time. |
| "I went for nearly 70 jobs, and it's a real battle because a lot of people don't write back to you. They say it's not age, but it is." | "I went for nearly 70 jobs, and it's a real battle because a lot of people don't write back to you. They say it's not age, but it is." |
| He was turned down for work at other car firms, at other factories, and cleaning work at an airport. | He was turned down for work at other car firms, at other factories, and cleaning work at an airport. |
| "I had four interviews at the airport and I never got the job. It's disappointing when they don't get back to you, it gets you down. I know a lot of friends who said 'sod it' and just gave up for a year to let it die down." | "I had four interviews at the airport and I never got the job. It's disappointing when they don't get back to you, it gets you down. I know a lot of friends who said 'sod it' and just gave up for a year to let it die down." |
| But some waited in vain for jobs on the same wage, and others are still out of work. It's not bad, it's done me proud William Mills on his new job | But some waited in vain for jobs on the same wage, and others are still out of work. It's not bad, it's done me proud William Mills on his new job |
| His new job involves taking out old sleepers and ballast, relaying tracks and packing the ballast under the sleepers. Although the hourly wage is slightly less than he was paid at Rover, he makes up for this by working longer hours. | His new job involves taking out old sleepers and ballast, relaying tracks and packing the ballast under the sleepers. Although the hourly wage is slightly less than he was paid at Rover, he makes up for this by working longer hours. |
| But being out in all weathers is tough, and walking on uneven stones has forced him to have an operation on his knees. | But being out in all weathers is tough, and walking on uneven stones has forced him to have an operation on his knees. |
| "But it's not bad, it's done me proud." | "But it's not bad, it's done me proud." |
| His advice for those facing redundancy? | His advice for those facing redundancy? |
| "Get a job, whatever it is, then look for another job. You don't want to be slave labour, but at least you're earning and out of the house and you're not relying on the government." | "Get a job, whatever it is, then look for another job. You don't want to be slave labour, but at least you're earning and out of the house and you're not relying on the government." |
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