by Cardigan
Non-Union Retirees Shafted in Auto Bailouts Told to Get Jobs
3:00 pm in Uncategorized by Cardigan
National Legal and Policy Center
One of the most egregious abuses of the Obama Administration’s auto bailouts was the blatant favoritism evidenced in the treatment of Delphi (General Motors’ parts supplier) retirees. After the Delphi bankruptcy, UAW retirees had their pensions “topped off” by General Motors, apparently with taxpayer money accessed through TARP. While the UAW retirees maintained their pension benefits, non-union, salaried retirees of Delphi lost theirs. There was no logical reason for one group to have their pensions saved while another group lost theirs, just the facts that the distributions were inequitable and the only difference between the groups was that one belonged to a powerful ally of Team Obama and the other did not.
Evidence now surfaces of the Obama Administration rubbing salt in the wounds of the non-politically connected retirees. When the salaried retirees requested help from President Obama to restore their pension benefits, the Department of Labor’s Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, Jay Williams responded, “Delphi retirees may be eligible for assistance through the Workforce Investment Act Adult and Dislocated Worker Program. The program is designed to provide quality employment and training services to assist eligible individuals in finding and qualifying for meaningful employment and to help employers to find the skilled workers they need to compete and succeed in business.” Essentially, “Don’t like it? Get a job!”
