Inside Report (1)
Auto workers who gave up wage increases to save plants and jobs are angry about new shutdowns and spreading layoffs.
General Motors is a particular target. After the concessionary contract signed in April, GM sought local agreements to eliminate inefficiencies in its 147 US operations. Plant-by-plant talks produced only 38 tentative agreements. GM said the corporation would have to ''look at some situations we just can't afford.''
During the past week, GM announced that two assembly plants will be closed for an indeterminate period, operations will be cut back at two others, and a number of stamping, plating, and parts plants will be closed or consolidated. Thousands will lose jobs or be laid off indefinately.
A United Auto Workers spokesman said that ''this is what we sacrificed to prevent.''
