Delphi workers carried their weight, earned their keep

Delphi workers carried their weight, earned their keep

EDITOR:

Delphi Packard retirees worked many years for the company and earned numerous Excellence in Quality Awards. We donated our time and money generously to the community. There are too many people in the Valley who enjoy bashing the workers and retirees of Delphi Packard and G.M. Lordstown.

I worked hard at my job and I trained many new hires throughout my years there. After a few hours training, all new hires said they would never again bash or bad mouth the auto workers. They said we earned every penny we made and then some. Unfortunately, many new hires didn’t last their first day on the job and many quit after a week. The job was demanding and took it’s toll on our bodies.

Many fault the unions; the unions only bargained on our behalf. The companies and unions reached agreements, our contracts. I worked there until my retirement for the promises in the contract, my full pension and lifetime health care benefits. Delphi and G.M. encouraged eligible workers to retire to save the company money. I never lived extravagantly or beyond my means. My home is paid for and I have the usual expenses: property taxes, auto and home insurance, federal and state taxes, utility bills, etc. If I lose my pension supplement, I may receive before taxes, $500 per month from PBGC. If my monthly disposable income is $350 per month, I will basically be destitute, not even able to afford an outhouse, let alone my home. Plus, I will be losing all health insurance. This is truly a double whammy. I will not be able to afford to purchase health insurance on such a meager pension.

My husband also retired from Delphi Packard. Sadly, he died this past September after a 10 year battle with multiple sclerosis. I know first hand the importance of health insurance. Some of his prescriptions were over $1,000 each, plus the doctor, MRIs, urologists, neurologist, blood work, physical therapists, etc.

There are many more retirees out there whose lives will be endangered without lifesaving medical care. Had we known the Treasury and Auto Task force would tell General Motors not to honor our contract, none of us would have retired. The UAW retirees are allowed to keep their pensions and benefits. The IUE-CWA retirees are only asking for fair treatment and to receive what was promised to them in the contract.

It would help if everyone in the Valley and country supported us in our fight and called and e-mailed their politicians, businesses, auto dealerships, etc. to aid in the fight to stop this atrocity. It is grossly unjust to change the rules of the game at this stage of our lives. Delphi and GM executives will still receive their multimillion dollar bonuses, while the retirees get $350 per month. What is it that I am missing here?

TONA L. MOORE

Youngstown

Ryan and the middle ground

EDITOR:

After 30 years of unrelenting war between the pro-choice and pro-life camps, someone has finally staked out middle ground.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17th, should be commended for his valiant effort to find common ground on an area that everyone should be able to agree on: the need to reduce abortion. By shoring up the right to comprehensive sex education and contraception and finding ways to support women who have their babies, Congressman Ryan’s bill does something that we all can agree on.

KIM AKINS

Youngstown