GM Sees Faster Drive Without Weight of Retiree (2/2)

G.M. has seen its share of the North American market shrink" class="hjdict" word="shrink" target=_blank>shrink while its labor costs have remained far above its biggest competitor, Toyota. The deal would give G.M. the right to lower pay for some new employees. The agreement is likely to provide an example for coming talks with the two other major American automakers, Ford and Chrysler.

The new contract still needs final approval by the union. Until then the full details are not being released. The union expects its members to begin voting this weekend. The trust would also need approval by the courts and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The process is expected to take two years. After that, G.M. would no longer have to pay for health benefits for its retirees.

Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said the agreement will help his company become more competitive. This, he says, will permit G.M. to keep a strong manufacturing presence in the United States and make future investments. This was the first nationwide strike against G.M. since nineteen seventy.

The existing contract ended at midnight on September fourteenth. Union members continued working until their leaders called the strike Monday morning. The strike ended early Wednesday after negotiators reached the agreement.

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通用汽车公司受到了北美市场缩减的影响，但其劳资开销仍然高于其最大竞争对手丰田汽车公司。该项协议使通用公司有权支持新员工较低的薪水。其也为将要进行谈判的美国另两家主要汽车制造商福特和克莱斯勒，提供了实例。

新协议仍然需要通过联盟会的最终认可。直到那时，协议的详细内容才会被公布。联合会希望其成员能够在本周末进行投票。（新建的）信托所也需要法庭和美国证卷交易管理委员的批准。整个过程预计需要两年时间。在那之后，通用公司就不在需要为退休员工支付健康保险费用了。

首席执行官瓦格纳（Rick Wagoner）说该协议可以使公司更有竞争力。他说，这将使通用公司立于美国汽车制造商前列并有利于未来的投资。这也是1970年来的一次针对通用公司的全国范围的罢工。

现有的合同在9月14日半夜拟定完成。直到周一早晨，联合会的领导者呼吁罢工时，其成员都一直在工作。在谈判者达成一致后，罢工于周三早晨结束。