Delphi retiree upbeat after D.C. hearing

By Don Shilling

The Howland resident is optimistic that senators will work to restore pension benefits.

A local Delphi Corp. retiree was encouraged after telling a congressional committee Thursday about the loss of pension benefits by many area residents.

“I think it went very well. I’m very pleased,” said Bruce Gump, of Howland, after his testimony before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Gump is a member of the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association, which has been fighting Delphi’s decision to terminate its pension plans and turn them over to the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Retirees are expecting pension cuts of between 30 percent and 70 percent at the first of the year.

The Senate committee was looking into a variety of pension issues, and Gump was one of eight people to testify.

Gump said he focused his remarks on the Delphi situation. He explained the retirees’ assertion that the PBGC was wrong to give up liens that it had against Delphi’s assets and that it is unfair that General Motors is paying to restore the pensions of hourly workers but not salaried workers.

He said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, a member of the committee, asked about the effect the lost pensions would have on communities.

Gump said he talked about a study by Youngstown State University that said 4,830 jobs will be lost in the Mahoning Valley as Delphi retirees have less money to spend at local businesses. He also passed along personal stories of people who face serious medical conditions with lower pensions and a health-care plan that changed so that the retirees bear more of the cost.

Gump said retirees are hoping the committee members will contact officials in the administration, as well executives at GM and Delphi, and press to restore the pensions.

“From the sense of outrage that was apparent from the senators, I think it will happen,” he said.

A House subcommittee also has agreed to consider pensions issues and plans to have testimony about Delphi retirees.

Gump said he hopes to testify at that hearing, but the witness list has not been set.

Gump was introduced at the hearing by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th. Ryan has been working with the salaried retirees and is credited with setting up the hearing by the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions. A date on that hearing has not been set.

shilling@vindy.com