The keyboard division at Roland Instruments http://www.rolandus.com/ took some hits, and a bunch of folks were laid off, including my brother Larry Houston.

He had been there 15yrs as a demo person for various keyboards. That's how I got my NAMM passes, and also the family discount on Roland/BOSS products.

Larry

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Tony Houston

I'm sorry to hear about anyone getting laid off, especially during the holidays. I hope your brother is able to find another job soon.

Tony, sorry to hear that. Keeping my fingers crossed he gets hired back soon! I can't imagine what it is like to work for a company that long and then they just lay you off.

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

That is really awful, I'm sorry for your brother. Hopefully something good will come his way soon. Laying off someone with 15 years of service to the company is a terrible thing to do.

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"Today Atlantis, tomorrow the world!"

Fact of life: Companies don't want to keep older/more experienced/more expensive employees. They would rather have cheap, inexpensive labor out of college that doen't know squat about the industry, regardless of what the industry is. I have been unemployed for the past 4 months after 35+ years in the defense/intelligence community. I have held high level clearances that require in depth background investigations and polygraphs as well as clearances I can't even acknowledge I held. I'm 58 years old. Every person that was laid off the same day I was laid off were over 50. All companies care about these days is their bottom line.

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Bill

Wow, is that ever true! I experienced the same thing with the I.T. industry (working for Hewlett Packard on a gov't contract). Some of the people hired back off the contract were 30 and under.

i work for a small construction co. we'll be letting 3 people go around the first of the year. i hope i'm not one of the three.
with a resume like your brother's, i'm sure someone will realize what an asset he would be anywhere.

Has he ever demo'd a keytar? like one of the seriously high end ones? because those are some of the coolest instruments on the market, imo.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Same thing happened to me and many of my co-workers. Now the geniuses that run the company a worried they jumped the gun. They threw away all the experience and knowledge of the older workers and now they figured this out too late. The few remaining old workers mostly are going to leave at the beginning of the year and the company doesn't know what to do. They are just to #@$&! to get it.

This is another reason unions are vital. In fact, at some of the places I've worked, I would have liked to have two or three unions to protect the workers. And a labour attorney with me at all times.

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Fender American Series Stratocaster
Marshall JTM612
Marshall JTMC12
Gibson Vintage Reissue strings
DiMarzio pickups
Souldier guitar strap
Spectraflex cables

I was a teamster for 33 years and it still happened. Being in a union is not going to prevent this. BTW I am not dissing unions.

I know it happens but one would hope that something can be done.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/discrimination/agedisc.htm

http://labor-employment-law.lawyers.com ... ayoff.html

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Fender American Series Stratocaster
Marshall JTM612
Marshall JTMC12
Gibson Vintage Reissue strings
DiMarzio pickups
Souldier guitar strap
Spectraflex cables

+1
Unless you have language in your contract that guarantees you work, you can get laid off, and even with said language, when that contract comes up, that may be something that doesn't get agreed upon in new contract. NOBODY is safe, union, non-union, owner, or employee.

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"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

I can't understand why a lot of companies choose this time of year to lay off personnel,it seems pretty cruel from the way I see it.I certainly feel for your brother but I'm sure that someone as proficient and talented enough to be a demonstrator for one of the world's most recognized keyboard and synthesizer companies,wouldn't have much trouble connecting with another company that could put his talents to use.Wish him luck for me.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Tony, sending mojo from Chicago for your Brother. I hope that he finds another gig as soon as he wants to, it's the holidays so maybe your Bro can enjoy the time off and start working again after them.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.