GENERAL MOTORS RETIREES ASSOCIATION BANKRUPTCY!!
What's at stake for GM retirees and what is the GM Retirees Association (GMRA) doing on our behalf?
Retirees are dependent on GM for critical health, life insurance, pension and other benefits, which for many of us
are irreplaceable.
For salaried retirees who are not protected by collective bargaining agreements, these benefits
are at great risk, especially since retirees made their contributions over decades past and are now viewed by other
creditor groups as expense. At particular risk in the bankruptcy proceedings are health, dental and vision care
benefits for former salaried retirees under 65 (not yet eligible for Medicare) and life insurance for retirees of all
ages. Pensions, including the $300 monthly supplement provided as a health care offset to over-65 retirees, may
be next to come under fire, either terminated or left as liabilities to the "bad company."
GMRA has engaged the services of the law firm Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco, California, and the
head of its restructuring group, partner Dean Gloster. That firm has represented, as lead counsel, the official
committee of salaried retirees in the Delphi bankruptcy case, the official committee of non-pilot retirees in the
Delta Air Lines bankruptcy case, and the various employee groups in the bankruptcy of the city of Vallejo,
California on benefits issues.
GMRA, created to protect the rights of GM retirees, will work with retirees and other retiree organizations to seek
appointment of a committee in the GM bankruptcy to protect the benefits of salaried retirees and will work to
represent the interests of all retirees in this difficult time.
If you haven’t yet registered with GMRA and made a donation, please take those actions now - there is
strength in numbers! Join the thousands of other GM retirees across the U.S. who have become part of the
effort to ensure our voices are heard in bankruptcy court as well as in Washington, D.C. GMRA will post
bankruptcy updates and other information of interest on our home page at www.gmret.org in the President‟s
Corner. Visit often!
Additionally, although we have available to us a significant number of previously collected benefit materials, one of
you may possess an as yet undiscovered “silver bullet”. Please review your benefits booklets and personal
documents for early material (particularly that dated prior to 1985) and mail to Kathy Gacioch, GMRA Membership
Director, 18260 Colgate, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125.
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