Delphi Corp. hires more than 2,000 temps to fill vacancies

The temps will make just over half the hourly pay of permanent employees.
DETROIT (Dow Jones/AP) -- Delphi Corp. has hired more than 2,000 temporary employees to fill jobs expected to be vacated by some of the 12,600 hourly workers accepting early retirement.
The Troy, Mich.-based auto supplier, which has been in bankruptcy since October, announced the results of its attrition program Monday. Delphi has about 33,000 workers, 24,000 of whom are represented by the United Auto Workers.
More are likely to leave Delphi -- which is trying to shed workers and reduce wages -- since the company, former parent General Motors Corp. and two of its unions have agreed to an expanded early retirement and buyout program. That program awaits bankruptcy court approval this week before being rolled out to workers.
Delphi employs about 13,000 workers in Ohio in the Dayton, Warren, Columbus and Sandusky areas.
Undergoing training
The temporary employees, who make about $14 an hour compared with $27, are being trained to ensure smooth production, Delphi spokesman Lindsey Williams said Tuesday.
Some union local presidents have said they were concerned about production hiccups with so many employees leaving.
Although Delphi plans to close all but eight of its U.S. plants eventually, it still needs to supply its customers.
"This is in anticipation of the openings that will have been created by some of the exits of retiring employees," Williams said.
A UAW local president said he was concerned about temporary employees' being trained properly. Mike Hanley, president of Local 699 in Saginaw, Mich., said 1,777 workers out of 3,400 will leave Delphi and 138 will fill open positions at GM.