It appears that the many problems facing United Auto Workers (UAW) members and General Motors Corporation (GM) workers has reached the breaking point. Today thousands of GM workers walked off the job en masse in an act that hasn't occurred since 1976.
One of the biggest problems and concerns of current and retired GM workers is the scaling back of health benefits. According to an article in USA Today:
"General Motors Corp. and the United Auto Workers will work this weekend to finalize the financial commitments of a retiree health care
trust expected to be the core of a new labor pact.
In what has been the central issue of this year's labor talks, GM is looking to shift $50 billion in retiree health care obligations to the union through a voluntary employees' beneficiary association, or VEBA, that would be funded by the automaker."
In light of the walk out on GM plants nationwide it appears talks broke down over the weekend. I can't imagine how GM could survive during any lengthy strike as they've been hemorrhaging money of late.
For an interesting and detailed look at pensions and health benefits I suggest you read an article by Malcom Gladwell called "The Risk Pool."
Gracias por el apoyo Andres su blog es muy interestante
Posted by: Tania | September 24, 2007 3:52 PM | Permalink to Comment