Layoff Possible at Burger Boat

Either that , close the thread or rename YF the Political Forum.

Lets stop the Blame Game

Friends,

Lets stop the Blame Game. All of our politicians are to blame. We need to get our country moving forward again. We build some of the best products in the world. Like Burger Boat a true American product. If we get our economy going full steam ahead we will put people back to work and Builders like Burger will have a nice back log of new builds.

This is a form of logical fallacy called "argument by adverse consequences." It is a standard technique of so-called conversational terrorism.

Haven't heard a statement like that since the hazy daze of the late 60's. Personally, I'd just call it cutting the C and getting to the bottom line. That bottom line is that if Burger dumps 70% of their work force I don't believe they'll ever recover. It's like taking the wheels off a cart to save weight because it's too heavy to move, and leaving the 400 lb. guy up there to drive the team. If the big boat market is still doing well, as it seems to be, then the front office is the area not doing it's job. Since chopping one unproductive salary from there may equal 10 on the line .....

Wasn´t it about a possible 30% layoff?

That doesn't seem to be the word at the yard:

I agree, but we are in a worldwide recession and Burger has no control over that, they can only react to it. Right now, many countries in Europe, the United States, and many other parts of the world are in a recession. Yachts are a luxury item and the last thing most people think about buying in the midst of a recession.

Brunswick has reacted to the recession in much the same way. They've had plant closings lasting months. They just announced they are closing the Cabo factory and moving production to the Hatteras Factory in New Bern, NC at the beginning of the year. 3 Years ago, both the Cabo and Hatteras factory were at maximum production and could not keep up with demand. So, what is going to happen to their output when things get busy again and they are producing both brands from 1 factory?

It does make a lot of sense to bring Cabo production to a waterfront facility on the east coast logistically speaking, instead of producing them nowhere near water and trucking them. As well as the reduced labor and business costs of producing in NC versus CA. But the New Bern facility is only capable of producing so many boats a year.

There is one wild card that all companies involved with layoffs need to consider. Right now anybody who has a job is grateful, and that feeling will last a long time. When these companies that have done massive layoffs (and not just Burger) hire all new people to fill demand in a year or two all these workers will remember how easily their lives were turned upside down. They're going to want a safety net for the future and a bigger piece of the pie. A lot of these companies will then find themselves with unionized shops.

I hope not, I think most of the employees will understand that without the layoffs, the company would disappear so there will be nothing to come back to.

That depends on how across-the-board those layoffs are. In a unionized shop an attempt to lay of 70% of the rank and file could result in a 100% layoff including the executive offices and if the rank and file don't have jobs why should they care if the company survives. I know, Maybe, someday, when things get better. That's not believed anymore.

Hi,

From what I have seen around the world where Ship Builders and Repair Yards have closed down it does not take long for the workforce to disappear either into other professions or to actually up sticks and re locate somewhere else.

This makes the re starting of a yard very difficult should there be work to warrant the re start.

I am not talking about yacht yards here but commercial yards where the variety of work they will undertake is a lot broader that the white boat building counterparts but I am sure the end result will be pretty similar.

High-end housing will surely be back before boats. I already see the ads in my local paper for experienced carpenters, electricians, plumbers; even diesel mechanics. That work is much more steady and many of those jobs are already protected by unions. Why work on boats unless you love the company like firstmate seems to. Loyalty needs to be rewarded.

Down here in South Florida on the ICW and waterfront you see not a lot, but a fairly good amount of luxury homes going up. Remember the ultra wealthy are usually fine, they can get the knockdown house and lot for 1/2 the price of 3 years ago, and then have the house built for 30% less then 3 years ago. So it's a win win situation for them, yet not enough work to really get the country going......

Laying off 70% of the workforce seems too drastic a move. If it does happen, I hope it will only be temporary!

I have worked for Burger Boat for almost 5 years. I was layed off 2 weeks ago. I loved working there and agree with firstmate. I hope the best for the company and most importantly the workers. I was fortunate enough to pick up another job right away but will always miss Burger. It all comes down to business and they have to do what they have to do. There are no bad fealings.

It's good to be able to feel that way about an employer. They're to be commended for that. Do you think you'd go back if called in 6 mos. or a year or do you think you'll have moved on?

Like to point out that Northern Marine laided off most of there employees, then closed. Now it has reopened and I know they have hired back alot of there original workforce.
Also I purchase a older Burger from Burger yacht sale in Florida. There sales staff was great to work with. I wish them the best in these economic times

I think I would but I sure would want to know that it was for more than one boat. Hard to give up a job if you don't know how long it would be for.