Five hundred and eighty workers have agreed to leave General Motors’ Spring Hill manufacturing plant next month as part of a company-wide buyout program.
Mike Herron, chairman of UAW local 1853, said most retired with full healthcare and pension after 30 years of service.
Others, who have worked between 26 and 30 years, can receive what Herron called a “grow-in” retirement.
Herron said about 98 percent of Spring Hill’s retirements stemmed from those two programs, but a handful of workers instead walked away with lump-sum buyouts.
“We discourage that, to be quite frank. It’s basically where you sever all your ties and you leave the company, and you’ve got no medical benefits. You’ve got no health care… You’re going on to life after General Motors and after Spring Hill.”
Just over 3,000 workers remain at Spring Hill, working on the Chevy Traverse, scheduled to launch in early fall.
While 15 percent of the Spring Hill workforce is leaving, GM’s national effort has trimmed a quarter of its UAW employees.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM