Word that General Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday morning gave union leader David Buice some relief.
The president of Local 10 of the United Auto Workers, representing workers of the now-closed GM plant in Doraville, said union retirees have been on edge as the troubled corporation sought federal help.
There were worries over what effect a collapse of the automobile maker would have on their pensions and health-care benefits.
"The process, we hope, is coming to a close, so we can sit back and relax a little bit," said Buice, who had worked at the plant for some 30 years before retiring in October. "We've been on edge since December."
The national UAW membership late last week ratified an agreement with GM and the U.S. Treasury, agreeing to a revised contract designed to reduce GM's labor costs and cash obligations to union retirees.
The UAW deal was seen as the last hurdle for GM to seek bankruptcy protection.
"Hopefully, the bankruptcy judge will agree to what was just passed," Buice said. "If that's the case, we'll live with what we have, but right now we're thankful for what we've got."
The Doraville plant, at I-285 and Buford Highway, produced 9.5 million vehicles from 1947 until it closed in September 2008.
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