What Do You Do When There's No Help?

I have been unemployed since April 7 of this year and have been beating the bushes trying to find another job.

My printing job of the last 24 years has, like so many manufacturing jobs in North Carolina, moved overseas.

The Trade Act of 1974, amended 2002, created a program of Trade Adjustment Assistance to provide assistance to individuals who became unemployed as a result of increased foreign competition, return to suitable employment. Part of that assistance is payment of tuition, books, and fees if you enroll in approved training.

Since I have not been able to find employment in this area I decided to go back to school and try another profession. This will be an experience for me as my son who just graduated from high school will be attending also.

Maybe more of an experience for him.

If I ever get in!

I went to the unemployment office on Monday to talk to my TRA "specialist" and she told me I would have to talk to their counselor. She set me an appointment for 9:45 am on Wednesday, which was today.

She gave me an appointment card with explicit instructions to call if I couldn't keep the appointment.

I arrived at the unemployment office this morning at 9:30 (I like to be prompt), and the light in the counselors office was off. The receptionist told me to have a seat and wait.

At 10:00 am I got up and left having never seen the counselor. She never showed and I haven't had one phone call explaining why.

I wonder why their time is so valuable that you must call them if you can't make it but they don't have the decency to call you if they can't.

Maybe they consider me a second class citizen because I don't have a job. Hell, if everybody had a job what would we need the unemployment office for. I'm giving her job security. Maybe she thinks I can just come and sit and wait on her all day. I can't and I won't.

I've worked for 36 years and have never, ever, been on unemployment until this year.

I think I deserve a little better than that---------------

or at least a reason as to why you can't do your job.