(Washington, DC) -- Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-17) issued the following statement on the agreement between IUE-CWA and General Motors on retirement benefits.

“I am thrilled about the outcome of the negotiations. I also want to commend the leadership of Governor Ted Strickland as well as Senator Sherrod Brown. This means over millions of dollars in pensions will remain in the Mahoning Valley and Ohio. The union and its members are to be commended for their leadership and persistence in the negotiations with General Motors.”

“This agreement will solidify our local economy and allow us to build for the future. With approximately 4000 local Delphi hourly workers now getting their full pension, GM adding a second shift at the Lordstown facility, the continued development of our business software cluster and our area's growing green technology sector, we are primed to benefit from the next upturn in the economy. Tough times don't last, tough people do. We all worked together on this. And once again our people have shown the tenacity and persistence that are leading to the economic comeback of our community.”

“This is a good day, but work remains to be done. I remain committed to working on behalf of the approximately 1000 salaried employees to ensure they receive the benefits and health care that they earned through their years of hard work and dedicated service.”

---