GM Sees Faster Drive Without Weight of Retiree (1/2)

Labor relations in the American auto industry took a new turn this week with a deal that many are callinghistoric. General Motors and the United Auto Workers agreed on a proposed new contract after a strike that lasted two days. Seventy-three thousand union workers walked off the job.

Job security was the top issue for union members. The U.A.W. is seeking to protect jobs in the United States and limit the number of temporary workers used by General Motors.

For G.M., the main issue was to find a way to cut its costs for health care for retired workers. The nation's largest automaker estimates its long-term responsibilities at more than fifty billion dollars. Under the agreement, G.M. would create a trust called a volunteer employee benefit association.

This VEBA would pay health care costs for retirees. G.M. is expected to invest about thirty-five billion dollars to start the fund. The fund would be independently administered and the union would supervise it. United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger said the fund should secure benefits for retirees for the next eighty years.

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本周，通过一项具有历史性的新交易，美国汽车工业劳工关系有了新进展。在持续了两天的罢工后,就一项提交的新合同达成协议。 73，000名工人参加了罢工。

对联合会的成员而言，工作保障是最重要的。汽车工人联合会向美国寻求工作保护并限制通用汽车公司雇佣临时工的数量。

对通用汽车公司而言,关键的问题是找到一个方法能削减付给已退休工人的医保费用。国家最大的汽车制造商估计这是一项长期工作，需要支付500多亿美元。根据协议，通用汽车公司将建立一个名为员工福利志愿者协会的信托机构.

VEBA将为退休人员支付保健费用。通用公司预计将投入350亿美元启动基金。该基金将被独立管理并接受联合会的监督。汽车工人联合会主席Ron Gettelfinger说该基金将保证退休人员未来80年的利益保障。