In response to a recent letter (“Too late to want bigger pension,” April 30), the letter writer mentioned that Delphi salaried retirees had the option to contribute to a 401(K) plan. This is true, but entirely beside the point. It’s like saying that a robbery victim shouldn’t complain that about having money stolen from his bank account because he could have also put savings into a Certificate of Deposit. It is the theft of our earned pensions that we are suing about. The 401(K) was offered as a personal investment opportunity, not as a replacement for a pension plan. The 401(K) is simply not relevant to the issue of the defined benefit pension plan terminations.
The second point is that with both GM and Delphi in bankruptcy, there was no contractual obligation for any pension, union or salaried, to be honored. The government now admits that the decision to selectively top-up the union’s pensions and not the salaried retirees was a choice, not an obligation, with the President’s Auto Task Force calling the shots. Treasury’s Auto Task Force directed the expedited 44-day GM bankruptcy as part of the auto bailout. The Delphi UAW retirees received full healthcare and pensions, while salaried retirees were left with no healthcare and pension reductions up to 70 percent. The administration, in its rush to seemingly favor union retirees for political gain, did not even take the time to properly review the salaried pension plan, which was entirely savable if the PBGC had simply followed its normal procedures and not let itself be railroaded by the Treasury.
Salaried retirees are pleased that union retirees have their full benefits – they earned them, but so did salaried retirees. Most agree this is unfair, but more importantly, salaried retirees believe their pension plan was illegally terminated. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is the only government agency legally authorized to terminate pension plans.
In a congressional investigation requested by Rep. Mike Turner, it was revealed that Treasury, in a unique and unprecedented manner, pressured the PBGC into terminating the Salaried Plan, while arranging for the unions to keep their full pensions. These actions, combined with the unlawful way the PBGC terminated our plan, resulted in our pension plan being needlessly terminated, and is the basis of a lawsuit pending in Detroit Federal District Court. The administration has been withholding information pertinent to our case, but after 4½ years, the truth is starting to emerge. Why would our own government stonewall releasing the facts if there is nothing illegal to hide?
THOMAS S. ROSE, WASHINGTON TWP.
SPEAK UPS
A recent Speak Up contributor took "typical liberals" to task for failing to use critical thinking to recognize the difference between conservative's acceptance of tax issues they can vote on, but rejection of "frivolous" taxes "imposed" by tax and spend politicians. Perhaps these same right-wing folks could use some of their newfound critical thinking to review Article I Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the authority to tax and pay debts as well as to provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States.
Re “Sunny stroll (photo),” May 14: Humans should learn a lesson from these geese. A gander and his mate on guard with their offspring learning the lessons they will need to survive and prosper. Only humans, with their often selfish approach to life, can ignore lessons that are inherent in nature. No single moms or dads for these little goslings.
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