By Jerome Vaughn, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-852919.mp3
DETROIT, MI – General Motors announced more than 6,000 hourly workers have taken early retirement or buyout offers.
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The Detroit automaker says the workforce reductions are needed to position the company for long-term viability and success.
GM officials say about two-thirds of the employees responding to the special attrition plan took early retirement. The others took buyouts.
The company had about 54,000 hourly workers before this latest round of buyouts. Officials have said they'd like to get its hourly workforce down to just under 41,000 by the end of this year. That means GM will likely eliminate thousands more jobs in the coming months.
GM announced earlier this year that it would close 14 factories in the U.S. by 2012.
The automaker says about 66,000 workers have taken early retirement or buyout offers since 2006.