UAW says over 33,000 GM, Delphi workers take buyouts

Thursday June 15, 6:43 pm ET

By Kevin Krolicki

At a news conference to mark the end of a four-day union conference, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said 25,000 General Motors and 8,500 Delphi Corp. (Other OTC:DPHIQ.PK - News) workers had taken the early retirement incentives.

"I think it's going pretty well," Gettelfinger said. "I think it's a little better than we initially expected."

The number of blue-collar workers who accept the early retirement incentives has been closely watched as an indicator of the success of GM's turnaround efforts.

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Link to full article @ Yahoo! Finance/Reuters

Yep, in Doraville GA, cradle of the Uplander, Terazza, Relay, and export-bound SV6 Pontiac Montana, over 1000 have signed on thus far. That's out of approx. 2800 currently active hourly. The "buzz" says that folks are waiting until near the deadline on the 23rd of June and will likely see another 500 folks (or more i'm thinking) rush the office to ink their separation papers. This location in particular is very ripe in terms of utilizing the SAP. Most'd rather not have to transfer again. And those who've never worked in another plant don't find the prospect of moving palatable, especially if they're close to retirement

We're still assembling the cross-overs at a much reduced rate. For example, the 2006 model went into production in mid-July '05. There were 6 weeks of extra downtime factored into the run of '06s. We changed over to start production of the '07s in mid-May of this year. So, that means that the outgoing '06s were in production for less than 9 full months. Buy now! They'll be hard to find in another 8 months to a year.

By the way, Gettlefinger's made some common sense comments re: the UAW's need to retrench to survive in a changing labor market. I suppose, that if you're quoted often enough, or "sound bitten" often enough, the odds are that you'll say one or two things which sound thoughtful, or lucid.

He has lost touch with the backbone of the workforce which actually does get the work done. His minions on the factory floor still champion the miscreants, the slackers and slugs-a-bed. By default, and with any luck, some of those'll be grabbing the tin-ring and exiting GM stage-left. Because, since GM is slowly, but with undeniable certitude, gaining the upper hand, the word out on the floor is that if you stay, best be prepared to work!

Edited June 16, 200619 yr by longtooth