Posted: 4/5/2009 8:50:12 AM EDT
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I'm getting desperate here guys. I have been out of work since last June as my last shop closed its doors. It was at the New Smyrna Beach Observer in case you are wondering. I have a part time gig, but last week I only worked for 3 hours.
I have 14 years experience as a web offset pressman. Half that time was spent on cold web offset and the other half with U.V. drying. I can run multi web presses and single narrow web. I can do all printing related processes with the exception of composing on the computer. I can strip negs, make plates and all of my own repairs. I have been Lead Pressman, Head Pressman and Press Foreman. I am looking for just about any press position as I prefer to actually be on the press. I am very mechanically inclined, a fast learner and fairly intelligent also known for my absolute reliability. I would like to stay in Eastern Central Florida as my Fiance works in Deland. I am already commuting to Mt. Dora now, so anywhere within 50 miles from Deltona would be good. Thanks for any help, Keith I thought if I posted in the hometown forums I could get more reads, if this is the wrong spot let me know. |
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good luck finding work, you might want to re-educate
yourself to do something other than what you do now, maybe something related but it seems to me that print media is a dying trade. Is pressman associated with news paper? if so really re-train to some other trade. It is never too late to learn somerthing else to back up what you know. 
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| I feel your pain. I've been out for over three months. I'm looking at other fields. My advise: Either find a different profession or move to where you're needed. I've got a pain-in-the-ass wife with family ties here, so she doesn't want to move "within the next year". So I'm looking at other options. Not the first time that's happend. Last I heard is the slump is supposed to last until 2010. Hang in there. |
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Thanks for the well wishes guys. Most of my career has been doing commercial work, with about 4 years in newspaper. Newspapers are having a tough time for several reasons. The main one being advertising in the paper itself. With the downturn in the economy fewer and fewer businesses are buying ad space. But if look in any Sunday paper there are plenty of inserts.
Retraining for other trades may be an option, but I don't see any trade doing really well right now either. Medical related stuff is not for me. My Fiance is an EMT working in an emergency room right now. She had to put her Nursing studies on hold until I can get working again. Her income cannot support us, let alone her tuition. If any one hears about anything, please feel free to contact me. I am here every day, I just don't post much. Hell this is post 100 and it only took 8 years. 
Thanks again guys, Keith |
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Keith I work for a web printer in South Florida. We laid off over 100 people in 2008-2009. I've been in the business for almost 20 years, it is all I've ever done. I started out as a jogger and worked my way up through the ranks, I've been a supervisor, manager and now I am in sales. We are in a sunset industry, technology will someday soon replace print as you and I know it. You've received good advice, you need to find something new to do. I know it is tough, you want to go to what you know but the writing is on the wall. This is a great opportunity to learn a new trade. Since I know you must be in the Daytona area, I would advise you seek out training in electrical or plumbing as pressman become familiar with both of those trades.
Have you tried the local Workforce One office? http://www.workforceflorida.com/boards/index.htm If you are a veteran, let me know. For the record I am there with you. While still employed I've recently decided it is time for me to find something new to do. I am actively pursuing business plans and hope to start my own healthcare-related company in the next 12 months. PM me if you want to talk more. |
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Quoted:
I'm getting desperate here guys. I have been out of work since last June as my last shop closed its doors. It was at the New Smyrna Beach Observer in case you are wondering. I have a part time gig, but last week I only worked for 3 hours. I have 14 years experience as a web offset pressman. Half that time was spent on cold web offset and the other half with U.V. drying. I can run multi web presses and single narrow web. I can do all printing related processes with the exception of composing on the computer. I can strip negs, make plates and all of my own repairs. I have been Lead Pressman, Head Pressman and Press Foreman. I am looking for just about any press position as I prefer to actually be on the press. I am very mechanically inclined, a fast learner and fairly intelligent also known for my absolute reliability. I would like to stay in Eastern Central Florida as my Fiance works in Deland. I am already commuting to Mt. Dora now, so anywhere within 50 miles from Deltona would be good. Thanks for any help, Keith I thought if I posted in the hometown forums I could get more reads, if this is the wrong spot let me know. I know you said within 50 miles, but........................you might want to check Brownells. They have an interesting position open. It is a bit farther than 50 miles though but it is an awful nice part of the cuntry. Good luck |
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GatorFL, while I agree that is printing is going through tough times and it will remain that way for some time, there is still plenty of printing being done somewhere. If I can secure some employment right now, it will be easier to train for something new in the off hours. I need to work now or I am going to lose my transportation and shortly there after my house.
What I mean to say is, some place is printing those magazines, food labels and boxes in the stores. Books are still being printed too. I have been doing this for 14 years myself. I have never seen it this bad before. After 9/11 it was a terrible time for printing, but the shop I was at held on. I guess I got lucky that time. Trying to find work right now is difficult at best. It really is an employers market. I know it may sound like I'm whining a bit or being a little adamant, but I am getting stressed out about this. My last four employers recruited me and now I can't give myself away. I have never been out of work for more than three weeks my entire life. I'll be 42 next month to put that in perspective. I just did a little gig for a company out in Mt. Dora. They hired me as an independent contractor which was fine with me. I worked maybe 33 hours in the past 3 weeks and they are now looking at dissolving the company. They happen to be heavily tied to the automotive industry, so I was cautiously optimistic about a future there. Thanks for letting me vent a little guys, I just need some work and enough pay for the bills. I mean I can take a 60% pay cut and still pay everything. I won't be able to pay anything off, but everything will get paid. |
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It's the economy. Last March we did $5 million in business here. This March, half of that. Plus, new paradigms are changing printing. Rising paper, postal and distribution costs are really hurting publishers and newspapers, which is why they are going bust. Have you seen an Amazon Kindle yet? It is an electronic book. Exactly the sort of technology that is taking the place of what we do. With so many unemployed pressmen I know it will be difficult for you to find a job. I would refer you to our HR department but having laid off 100+ people we look to rehire those we've let go before we make any new hires.
I would try the News Journal, DME and Independent Printing. I think the latter are sheetfed only. CFP in Orlando has a web press or two. Or call Wayne Davidson at Trend in Jacksonville. |
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I knew those ebooks would start to hurt us. Not only has paper gone up, but ink too. The News Journal is a no go, I have an inside guy there. Plus they have financial problems due to their losing a case against Cox Communications. DME, Independent, CFP are not hiring either. I will have to try Trend as I did not want to travel that far. I am seeking alternate types of employment too. I have too much mechanical and technical skill not to be able to find something. For years I have done most of the wrenching on these damn machines. I can even do frame up rebuilds on Didde VIP's.
I hope things pick up for you guys. Once things start to turn around a lot of customers a going to find their favorite printers are gone. Who ever is left is going to be busy and require more lead time. Advertisers hate lead time too. |
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My suggestion is to keep an open mind and try something else. I would suggest plumbing, electrical or any traning that would take less than 6 months to get back on your feet. I was laid off for about 5 months last year and Thank God provided me with a great position and pay, though it was not in the same industry I was in, but I had over 15 years of mid management and traveled as a regional manager.
Keep your options open to do anything in this market condition, remember it will be difficult to find good paying jobs when there are 650K people out of work every month. Keep your faith above all and PRAY. |