White-collar retirees protest cuts by Chrysler

7/17/2008

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. A standing-room-only crowd of 150 Chrysler LLC white-collar retirees packed a meeting yesterday to discuss how they can protect their remaining benefits in the aftermath of life insurance cuts last month by the automaker and a day after rival General Motors Corp. slashed health insurance for its former workers.

Nearly three times as many retirees attended the meeting as organizers expected.

Chrysler workers were promised these benefits and counted on them when they retired, especially if they took an early retirement, said Chuck Austin, 66, president pro tem of the of the National Chrysler Retirement Organization. For them now to change their minds anytime they d like it s not right.