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Factory worker who can't afford a car walks 21 miles to work and back every day
Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 3rd February 2015 | James Gordon

Posted on 02/02/2015 2:25:26 PM PST by naturalman1975

For ten years James Robertson hasn't missed a single day of work. What's even more remarkable is that Robertson walks a round trip of 21 miles a day just to get there.

For five days a week, Robertson, 56, trudges from his home in Detroit to his job at the factory where he works in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

He's walked the walk ever since his 1988 Honda Accord quit on him more than 10 years ago.

His job pays him $10.55 an hour, which he claims is not enough for him to buy his own car, but that may well change after well-wishers managed to raise almost $42,000 for him in an online campaign in just hours.

For now though, whatever the weather, Robertson is there, on the job for his 2-10pm shift.

In the city that made the motor car famous, he is without his own four-wheels and there's no decent bus service to get him to where he wants to go, either.

'I set our attendance standard by this man,' said his boss Todd Wilson to the Detroit Free Press.

Wilson is plant manager at high-end plastic moulding specialists, Schain Mold & Engineering. 'I say, if this man can get here, walking all those miles through snow and rain, well, I'll tell you, I have people in Pontiac 10 minutes away and they say they can't get here — bull! He's never missed. I've seen him come in here wringing wet,' said Wilson, 53.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: bravosierra
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To: dragnet2

An article I read earlier said that he lives with his girlfriend who inherited the house they live in. He could’ve/should’ve been able to save enough money long ago to purchase a decent vehicle.
Maybe he just likes walking. And the Artie says he doesn’t walk the entire 21 mi round trip. Part of it he rides buses.


41 posted on 02/02/2015 3:36:43 PM PST by sheana
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To: dynachrome

Not only that but they say he is an upper manager!!!!! Something smells fishy!!!!!!


42 posted on 02/02/2015 3:40:33 PM PST by Kit cat (OBummer must go)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Saved up??? On $10.55/hr.? Unless he’s found a way to live without eating or paying rent......


43 posted on 02/02/2015 3:41:00 PM PST by oldtech
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To: naturalman1975

The article is long but in it his boss has nothing but praise for his persistance.
I’m not sure how he gets along financially as there has to be other assistance we are
hearing. His pay is around $1,700 monthly and that doesn’t stretch that far when everything
is included.


44 posted on 02/02/2015 3:41:13 PM PST by deport
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To: sheana

Doesn’t matter what he girlfriend inherited. Gezzz

Does that make it right for a factory to pay a valued 10 year veteran employee 10 bucks and change per hour?

Hello???

That’s late 1980s wages....

wow...


45 posted on 02/02/2015 3:42:46 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2

if he is willing to work for that, then it is up to him and his employer.

he could go on strike.


46 posted on 02/02/2015 3:43:32 PM PST by GeronL
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To: sheana

The 2nd sentence of the article:

“What’s even more remarkable is that Robertson walks a round trip of 21 miles a day just to get there.”

That means he’s walking 10.5 miles each way.


47 posted on 02/02/2015 3:45:19 PM PST by deport
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To: oldtech

Yeah, in 2015 you should be able to save up for stuff making 10 bucks an hour...gak

I think some of these people here have absolutely no clue here, or just simple don’t care.


48 posted on 02/02/2015 3:47:31 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2

No. You asked how he could afford to pay rent, etc. I was just pointing out that according to an earlier article there is no rent.


49 posted on 02/02/2015 3:51:05 PM PST by sheana
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To: GeronL
Ya, I've heard that all before...The ugly fact is we have some of the greediest employers on the planet right here in the good old USA.

They act like he's a real valued employee in the article...So valuable they pay him 10 bucks an hour...

In 2015, that's an embarrassing disgrace no matter how ya chop it up.

50 posted on 02/02/2015 3:51:25 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: sheana

I guess since his girl friend inherited a home and he currently pays no rent, he’ll never have to pay his own rent and never need to buy his home, so it’s perfectly cool to pay this 56 year old 10 year employee 10 bucks an hour..

Got it.


51 posted on 02/02/2015 3:54:04 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2

Get your panties out of a wad. I never said a word about his rate of pay and whether it was right or wrong. Sheesh.


52 posted on 02/02/2015 3:55:31 PM PST by sheana
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To: deport

Scroll down on the link (about half way down) to see the map of his walking route to and from work.
Also note in 2nd paragraph it says the plant manager’s wife cooks dinner for him each day. (But no pay raise!)

Also a video on the page.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2015/01/31/detroit-commuting-troy-rochester-hills-smart-ddot-ubs-banker-woodward-buses-transit/22660785/


53 posted on 02/02/2015 3:56:58 PM PST by Whenifhow
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To: sheana
And the company paying the 10 year veteran employee 10 bucks an hour is a high-end plastic molding specialist/engineering company??

LOL

54 posted on 02/02/2015 3:58:27 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: naturalman1975

Honestly? A factory worker in Detroit makes $10.55 per hour? This is an entry level wage. What’s up with that? What’s wrong with him?


55 posted on 02/02/2015 4:00:29 PM PST by JudyinCanada
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To: deport

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2015/01/31/detroit-commuting-troy-rochester-hills-smart-ddot-ubs-banker-woodward-buses-transit/22660785/

A better article but confusing. They talk about a 23 mi trip from his home to the factory and then the miles he walks and then the miles he rides the bus
I guess he walks 12 miles of the trip each way. I was wrong and will admit it. Excuse me for getting confused.


56 posted on 02/02/2015 4:02:55 PM PST by sheana
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To: Secret Agent Man
At the same time I’d have found a cheap car on craigslist. And saved up for it. There are always inexpensive older cars on craigslist.

Obama's cash for clunkers certainly didn't help.

57 posted on 02/02/2015 4:17:51 PM PST by Go Gordon (Barack McGreevey Obama)
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To: oldtech

after ten years? it isn’t imposible. he could have at least gotten a used bicycle.


58 posted on 02/02/2015 4:22:26 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Darteaus94025

You said: Bet he isn’t fat or have Diabetes.

For your bet, I’ll raise you 800 carbs.

From the article: “Robertson claims he powers his marathon-like commutes by drinking two liters of Mountain Dew and countless cans of Coke each day.”


59 posted on 02/02/2015 4:59:26 PM PST by Tomato lover (Jesus wants to give you Eternal Life, just repent and accept him and it's yours.)
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To: naturalman1975
At $10.50 an hour a car would likely be out of his reach money wise. Cost of Living would make it all but impossible. What is posible down south due to lower prices isn't in northern states. Then you have to factor in liability insurance, Tags {in some states a high wheel tax}, & MAINTENANCE & upkeep on the vehicle. A brake job alone can be well above $800 thanks to companies intentionally building thinner rotors that won't allow for any turning down. Priorities are shelter and food first including heating and water.

That said he needs a higher paying job. His reliability alone in these times is worth a lot more than $10.50 in most places. Maybe a better offer will come along for him.

60 posted on 02/02/2015 5:15:32 PM PST by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
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