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On Friday, three hundred people will officially find out they are being laid off from Volvo Trucks North America in Pulaski County.
"Michael" told WDBJ7 that he believes he'll be one of those and wanted to share his story.
"I was excited to get the job. It was good money. I mean it's a good place to work."
Michael went to school, became a welder and was hired on at Volvo about a year ago. That means as far as seniority goes, he doesn't have much. And his gut told him to get ready, "We all knew when we was going there, it's only going to be a matter of time before we get laid off."
I thought for sure Mike would be angry, even bitter. I was wrong. Instead I met a 24 year old man with perspective.
"You're not angry number one. And I think this is an important point here. I think alot of people would go 'son of a gun', I hate this. That's not the case here. Talk to me about that Mike."
"There's a whole lot of worse things that could happen than this. I mean I can get work somewhere else if I have to."
Volvo says the layoffs are a direct result of the sluggish economy. Not enough truck orders, means eventually there won't be enough work.
Michael said Volvo's been doing 'down weeks.' Laying off for a week, then calling workers back.
"My steward told me it probably delayed this layoff by four months. I really feel the people at the company wanted to keep us there for as long as they could.''
Three months ago, Volvo said it expected orders to increase by 15 percent this year.
The union steward had different news for Michael.
"They told us that the people who are going to get laid off will get like a packet tomorrow and an invite to the meeting Sunday. And when they do that, that's when you know it's going to be you."
Michael says he expects to get that packet Friday.
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