GM Worker: Buyout's An "Insult"
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Updated: 3:16 PM Feb 3, 2009
GM Worker: Buyout's An "Insult"
$20,000 and a $25,000 car voucher is the reported buyout offer for all GM hourly union workers-- and not everyone is pleased
Posted: 11:05 PM Feb 2, 2009
Reporter: Lauren Zakalik
Email Address: lauren.zakalik@wilx.com
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The buyout buzz at General Motors is hitting a nerve with some of its workers.

"Personally i take it as an insult that you think you could buy me for $20,000 and a car," says Trent Bogle, who works at Lansing's Delta Township plant.

Bogle, a 25-year GM veteran, hearing for the first time of the buyout offers, is not impressed.

"Offer CEOs $20,000 and a car, see how many of them take it," he says. "I think GM needs to look at other areas to save money. I don't think buying laborers out is going to fix their problems."

The news hasn't been formally announced to workers-- nor to local union leadership. But UAW Local 652 president Mike Green says it's certainly a concern.

"It'll be up to the individual, if it's something people are interested in who maybe missed the last attrition offers-- Each individual will have to make their own mind up," Green says.

But with layoffs looming for members of both UAW Local 602 (LDT) and 652 (Lansing Grand River), these early retirements and buyouts could be factoring into people's plans.

"I can't imagine someone not looking at it because the future's uncertain," Green says. "People are going to look at if they were retiring, because now this is something more."

Bogle says Tuesday on the plant floor, people will be weighing in.

"I'm not going to say it's a bad deal, I'm not going to say it's a good deal. It's for those that want it, I guess. It's not a good deal for me, and I don't think it's a good deal for General Motors," Bogle says.

But it's a deal that GM is likely hoping many will take.

According to reports, the deadline for the buyouts is Feb. 25th.


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