People are complaining all of the time about the conditions of the stores, with pay, work hours, working conditions, benefits, policies, morale, and job security all being sources of concern. Given that your skills are transferable to other retailers, as well as numerous other industries, I have to question why anyone would continue to put up with the pain your feeling. I've heard it said that a frog will sit in a pot of water that's slowly being heated without realizing that it's starting to boil, until it's too late. Hopefully, the people who work in the stores have more sense than those mindless frogs.
So, even though many people may have many years of service, is it worth staying in a place that will sooner or later destroy your careers?
I would suggest doing yourselves favors, and apply for new jobs, at a rate of one or two applications a week. I can almost guarantee that your skills are enough to land in better run, happier, better paid places, where you have more of a future. There are still employers out there that value their people, where the workload is realistic, the people are just as good (or better), and you will once again feel good about your future.
I do have a personal motivation for this, as I was once a long-time Sears employee, who was let go in 2009. Since then, my pay has gone up by 33%, and I have since realized that it was the best thing that ever happened to me. But it didn't have to happen--I could have gone out on my own before this, and save myself a lot of heartache. I really do suggest that you do the same.
Ultimately, rather than waiting for your stores to shut down, and being slave to the fate that corporate thrusts upon you, leave on your own, and be in control of your future. The way things are running, they really can't afford to lose anyone. It's time to stick it to Eddie.