Sound_Off's Blog

My husband is retired from GM my son just took the buy out. I feel sorry for the one's that have big familys what are they going to do. I don't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing for my son to take the buy out even though his wife is working now a days it takes two to make ends meet.

That's because they were paying five bucks a gallon when we were paying a buck or less a gallon .

Those guys at GM are idiots. They will make Michigan go Down,Down,Down,and Down. They will never make good cars until the day they die.

My thoughts and prayers are with all affected by these cutbacks.

www.youcanaffordhealthcare.info - affordable benefits from $14.95/month

www.yourbusinessisfreedom.com - Business Opp. from home

No creativity. GM's turn around is BS and the existing executive team designing these solutions is a joke. It's the traditional bean counters at work with no creative thinking. Why haven't they come out and demonstrated a new way of working, building and designing cars and an innovative sustainable plan? From what I see, General Motors continues to screw its retirees and existing employees. Why would anyone want to work for this company? Workers were promised retiree benefits that included a pension and healthcare. Both have gotten either substantially cut or eliminated all together. This demonstrates they have no values. If they don't have values for their employees, how can they have values for the environment? They also mention no raises in 2009. If you're a young employee you should consider leaving now since you can still make something out of your career and you won't get a bump in pay in 2009. Why screw the employees and not do the hard things that can really show sustainable results? Come on GM, get creative! Eliminate your workers that aren't productive. You have a lot of slackers and non performers that should be fired before cutting into benefits of those people who once made you successful. If the GM board of directors was smart, they'd can the entire executive team. Look for downgrades from brokers and credit raters that will make it even more costly for them. People should comment on every blog out there about this BS plan. caveman

As retiree’s who have worked several years of our lives to help GM become a great company, this is how we get rewarded by having our Health Care taken away from us. There are other ways to save money that would gain the respect of all employees.
? First take away the cars from Company Drivers. This will save GM money on car insurance, gas, car washes and would stimulate car sales now that there would be no company drivers.
? Second eliminate some of the Executive Positions because when I retired 2 years ago GM had 184 Presidents and Vice Presidents. Why so many?
? Third any Executive who is making over $500,000 per yr. should take a 30 to 50% pay cut to show they are serious about restoring GM as a successful Automotive Company.
? Fourth eliminate the Corporate Aircrafts, the Pilots, Flight Crews and Mechanics and let the Executives travel like everyone else.
? Fifth eliminate the Executive Chauffer's. Why are chauffeurs needed?
? 6th Fire Wagoner because since he has taken over GM we have lost market share....which means he isn't doing his job. If I didn't do my job when I was working I would have been fired. Gm did not give Bob Stemple a fair chance and he was fired after 6 months.
GM needs to clean house starting with the Top Executives before they take away benefits from their retired and active employees especially the salaried employees because over the years we have sacrificed so much and have had several benefits taken away from us.
The Board of Directors need to look at the Big Picture and ask themselves do we have the right people running this organ

Health Care for all Americans.There is just too much corperate greed everywhere not only in the auto industry,healthcare,utilities,and the list goes on.What is this World coming to.I am a retired hourly GM worker,and I worked Hard each and everyday,and I am NOT lazy by any means

I think it's ironic that the retirees health care is cut, when this current generation of retirees worked for GM (and Ford and Chrysler for that matter), they worked to help make the company(ies) successful, most devoted their adult lives to long term careers (both blue and white collar). Then, then money is mismanaged at the top, granted the economy is bad, the cut is made to those who made the company successful. Maybe cut things like company cars, large expense accounts, large bonus payments to CEOs, etc.

These responses make me wonder just how many of you actually know what you're talking about?
How many of you either have or are currently employed by GM?
I am and from your responses I get the feeling that they are nothing more than opinions based on half truths and what you have read in the paper.

This is for jimij007 - my father worked for Ford for 40 years, supported a family of 6 as a skilled trade person, bringing home about 60+ working 7 days a week, he retired in 1999 and has a pension no where near 60K, so maybe you need to do some research. Granted some positions at the top are overpaid, the the average employee is not.