NYT: For G.M. Retirees, a Growing Sense of Unease

[Sgent]

DETROIT, June 29 - The Buick plant in Flint, Mich., where Elvia Reeves used to work has been demolished, but her health care benefits are as strong as ever. For now, that is.

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The outcome of the unusual talks this summer between G.M. and the U.A.W., coming at the halfway point of their four-year labor pact, remains to be seen. The talks, prompted by a sharp decline in G.M.'s earnings, are expected to continue into July. In a meeting in early June, a top U.A.W. official in Detroit told local union leaders that the company had threatened to cut health care benefits with or without the union's approval today, to coincide with a teleconference of G.M.'s board.

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When Floyd Laetz started as an office manager in 1929, he was making 35 cents an hour. Those were the days before he had a union-backed job and health insurance. Now, at age 92, his five prescriptions, mainly for his heart, cost him $25 every three months. He has been retired since 1971. "Darn it, we've got good benefits here at General Motors," he said, adding that he could stand some cuts but was worried about the effect of cuts on retirees not as financially secure as he is.

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I was touched. Here is a man that helped to organize the UAW, who worked at GM before the unions, and they're trying to screw him over.

NYTimes

[MaineDem]

1. Kick! (nt)

[converted_democrat]

2. kick