For more than 42 years, Mike Phipps worked for General Motors and Delphi. But on Thursday, he will join other salaried retirees in a protest in Detroit.
The Delphi Salaried Retirees Association (DSRA) is organizing a protest outside GM’s world headquarters Thursday in an effort to bring public attention to the loss of their pension benefits.
DSRA organized a protest outside Delphi’s headquarters in Troy, Mich., on June 12. That attracted about 200 marchers.
DSRA wants the retired salaried employees to be treated on an equal basis with members of the United Auto Workers union. The Thursday protest will last from noon to 2:30 p.m.
Phipps and a group of other Indiana retirees are in the process of recruiting more people to make the trip to Detroit for the protest.
He worked with GM for 33 years and the last nine-plus for Delphi.
Phipps, 61, said he paid into the GM pension fund for 33 years. Now Delphi is trying to default his pension to a federal agency.
DSRA wants GM to take over the Delphi pensions.
Phipps said GM is retaining the UAW pension benefits while letting the salaried people go.
“I don’t know if I would ever buy a car from GM again,” he said.
Phipps said he could lose 20 percent of his $3,000 per month pension before taxes, and younger retirees will lose even more.
“I just lost my health care,” he said. “I took the $800 per month plan.
“It’s forced me to go back to work,” he said. Phipps was painting a house on Tuesday.
Phipps said he is hopeful a lot of people from Indiana will make the trip to Detroit.
“I feel like we’re losing something that is rightfully ours,” he said of his pension benefit. “We want to let people know what is taking place.”
Phipps will be carrying a sign detailing his years of employment with GM and Delphi.
The DSRA hired an Indianapolis law firm Friday to take legal action to prevent the Delphi pension from being defaulted to the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC).
“It’s all about keeping the pension,” Den Black, interim chairman of DSRA, said. “We believe the sensible thing is to take the Delphi salaried pensions back to General Motors.”
• Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at (765) 454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com
Local News
Taking fight to the public
Delphi salaried retirees plan Detroit protest
- Local News
-
-
Delphi retirees continue fight for pensions
A group of then-Delphi Corp. retirees saw a long road ahead of them when they banded in 2009 to keep hold of their full pensions and benefits.
-
Eastern moves ahead on wind turbine
A packed room of remonstrators Tuesday held little sway over the Eastern Howard Schools board, which voted unanimously to move ahead on a $2.75 million wind turbine project.
-
Board: discipline not strict enough
The Medical Licensing Board of Indiana has rejected a proposed resolution to a Russiaville doctor’s disciplinary case, directing the Indiana Attorney General’s Office to propose a more stringent set of requirements.
-
City to end agreement with Novia
City officials said Tuesday they’re planning to switch providers at the city’s employee health-care clinic this spring, ending a year-old relationship with Novia Health Care.
-
Eastern celebrates graduation rate improvement
The latest graduation rates prove all Howard County schools are offering a quality education, a local superintendent said.
That’s how Tracy Caddell, superintendent of the Eastern Howard School Corp., summed up the figures released Tuesday by the Indiana Department of Education.
-
Jail full of females
In late January, cell mates Monica Clark Davis and Christy Miller were awaiting disposition of their respective cases in the Howard County jail.
-
Eastern set for wind turbine meeting
GREENTOWN — Eastern Howard Schools superintendent Tracy Caddell said Monday the school board is considering alternate sites for a proposed wind turbine project, which would build a 287-foot-tall windmill to produce energy for the schools.
-
Chamber cancels cook-off
After an 11-year run, the annual chili cook-off in Kokomo has been canceled for this year.
-
Miami County GOP fails to appoint new trustee
PERU – Miami County commissioners will be forced to appoint a Perry Township trustee after the GOP’s county chairman exceeded the deadline to replace the vacated seat.
-
Students petition to keep daycare at IUK
A group of Indiana University Kokomo students is petitioning the university to reconsider shutting down an on-campus childcare center.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
