Details of General Motors contract underscore UAW betrayal

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with a long-time GM worker who expressed opposition to the contract. Lyle, a worker at the Saginaw Metal Casting plant, said, “I wouldn’t vote for this. Maybe the union thought that by striking for two days we would go for this contract. The guys are very dissatisfied. I can’t see the membership ratifying this.

“I’ve read the Wall Street Journal and they’re gloating over the agreement. They took away our cost-of-living allowance and all we’re going to get are lump-sum payments. We fought hard for COLA to help against inflation and the union just dropped it. Now rising costs are going to continue to gnaw away at our hourly wages.

“GM will no longer be obligated to pay retiree health benefits when they set up this VEBA fund. Look at the history of these trusts—they’ve failed. Does the UAW think it can invest the money better than GM, with all their financial consultants? In ten years’ time the trust will be screwed up and we’ll be losing our benefits.

“Gettelfinger said the job security in the contract was the main achievement. If that was the main thing, then we’re in bad shape. For the last thirty years the union has talked about job security guarantees. At the same time the UAW membership has fallen from 1.5 million to 500,000. Two-thirds of us are gone. Is that job security?