Brenda

Brenda, 36, was laid off last September from her job as a highway construction worker from the Dick Corporation in Baltimore, Md., shortly after being promoted to traffic manager. Within two weeks of losing her job, Brenda’s husband was laid off from the fabrication shop where he worked. Brenda and her husband struggle to pay utility bills, and property taxes on their newly purchased home are delinquent. They may be facing foreclosure soon.

My Story
I’ve been a journeyman laborer working highway construction for many years, and I truly loved my job. I excelled in a male-dominated field and was rapidly moving up in the corporation, but it wasn’t easy. I usually worked 10-hour days, including Sundays, but I didn’t mind because I earned time-and-a-half and double-time on Sundays. I was making a really good living, and I felt accomplished. My husband and I were able to afford a new home due to the steady income we were bringing in. On Sept. 23, 2003, I was laid off with no notice whatsoever. Ironically, my husband was laid of from his job at a fabrication shop within two weeks of me. Needless to say, our world was turned upside down.

I went from earning $700 per week to collecting unemployment insurance benefits in the amount of $210 per week. My husband and I are now struggling to pay the bills. All of our bills are at least two months behind, our property taxes are delinquent and we may face foreclosure soon. So, my husband and I had great jobs, a new house and a seemingly bright future.

My husband is being retrained and will earn his commercial driver’s license soon. With this newly earned license, he’ll make decent money as a truck driver. We’re hoping he’ll start making money in time to save our house. As for myself, I’ve been actively looking for work since the day I was laid off. I’ve applied for all kinds of positions like warehouse worker, cashier, maid and more, but nothing has worked out. I’ll probably start being retrained once my husband has completed his courses—we can’t afford to be retrained at the same time.

As for my two teenage daughters, I worry. They’re our top priority, and we make sure they have everything they need. However, it gets hard because it’s often a tough choice between buying food for the week or basketball shoes for the upcoming season. Also, I worry because my daughter, Heather, has asthma and my insurance will end in May 2004. Hopefully my husband or I will find a job soon, so that we’ll have at least some health care. My family is doing without a lot of things they’re accustomed to. I live day to day in fear of losing all that I have.

From what I’ve seen, American people work so hard for themselves and their families in hopes of achieving their dreams. Americans are suffering and we don’t have options… it’s just too hard. I wish we’d keep jobs here, spend money on our own and make life a little easier for hardworking Americans.