Reply #38: GM nears deal to speed job cuts

[UpInArms]

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060320/1040320.asp

DETROIT - General Motors Corp., Delphi Corp. and the UAW are close to an agreement on a massive job-cutting plan to offer retirement packages to thousands of blue-collar workers, a pact that would help the struggling automaker avert a crippling strike at the auto parts supplier, sources familiar with the talks said.

GM and the UAW soon could announce details of the package, which could spur one of the largest exoduses of people from the automaker,

The deal would help GM accelerate its efforts to cut 30,000 jobs across North America by the end of 2008, including 25,000 in the United States.

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GM has continually cut its U.S. blue-collar work force. At the end of 2005, GM had 105,000 hourly workers in the United States, down from 133,000 in 2000.

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