Delphi's Bankruptcy Threat and the Auto Workers

"Automakers and the Voice of the UAW
'I'm a third generation autoworker, and am damn proud of it'"

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=314880&no=27787
8&rel_no=1

In December 2005, several U.S. Congressmen sponsored an online Congressional
hearing, "The American Automobile Industry in Crisis." They invited
Delphi workers and retirees to submit descriptions of the conditions of
their lives and what would happen to them if they lost the retiree benefits
and union wages that Delphi said it was going to ask the Court to help it
slash."

Over a thousand Delphi workers and retirees responded in writing.

This is happening in response to the challenge to society represented
by the recent threat by the Delphi Corporation to ask a US bankruptcy
court to drastically cut union workers wages and benefits.

"Delphi Corporation, the world's second largest auto parts manufacturer,
filed for bankruptcy for its North American operations on Oct. 19, 2005.
Delphi employs 185,000 workers world-wide and 33,650 hourly workers in its
U.S. operations.

"The company has threatened that if it doesn't get significant cuts in auto
worker wages and benefits via its negotiations with the United Auto Worker
(UAW) union leadership, that on March 30, 2006, it will ask the bankruptcy
court to impose substantial cuts in wages and benefits on its unionized
workforce in the U.S. This threat was made by the CEO of Delphi, Steve
Miller. What is the significance of such a threat being made to workers of
the union which helped to provide the benefits and wages that have set a
standard for other workers in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world?"
~