Viola

Viola, 66, was forced into retirement five years ago when her plant was outsourced to Mexico. She had planned on working until she was 65 but couldn’t find another job due to her age. Until she was eligible for Social Security and Medicare, Viola had to rely on her retirement fund to pay for health care and living expenses. Now she cannot retire comfortably as she planned and has replaced her furnace with a wood burning stove to cut expenses.

My Story
Before Moen moved to Mexico, they were constantly praising us for operating such a profitable plant. They told us they were leaving solely to cut labor costs. I was forced into retirement four years early and had to waive my right to bring suit against the firm for medical issues in order to receive a severance package.

I’m beginning to wonder if that was a good idea. I have developed some respiratory problems that I’m sure are due to dust from the plastics. Until I was eligible for Medicare, I was forced to use my retirement fund for medical expenses. Now there’s not much left to retire on.

My husband was forced into retirement from another plant. He worked for a farmer for a while but has retired now as well. I expected to travel the country when I retired, but instead we barely make ends meet. We cut costs everywhere that we can—we even replaced our furnace with a wood-burning stove. I’m worried about what we’ll do when our strength fails. I can’t cut firewood forever.

Since retiring, I began to worry about my son. He works at a steel mill and could face the same situation any time. His future is as insecure as mine is.

A lot of other people are struggling as well. Businesses have closed, the schools are hurting and the city laid off employees. All of Providence misses the revenue that Moen produced.

I fear that without the manufacturing base, this country will enter the worst depression yet. It’s very depressing to watch the blue collar disappear.