Published: October 10, 2006 04:57 pm            

DEMPSEY: It’s an unhappy ending for many

Delphi retirement without choice brings hurt feelings

I remember the day my grandmother retired from Delco Electronics — and yes, I will refer to it as Delco because that’s how I knew it growing up.

The name Delco conveys positive meaning to me, much more so than Delphi. That word is derived from the Greek word delph, meaning hollow. I’m sure many will see the irony.

That day in 1985 was a celebration. She’d spent 35 years working for the subsidiary of General Motors and the time had come for her to let someone else do the work.

Ready to go. Your own decision. It’s time.

That’s how I’ve always felt — and believed — people should retire. Sure, there are those who are forced to retire due to health or age, but for the majority who retire, it is their decision.

Which brings me next to my father.

After 46 years, he will retire Oct. 31 from Delco.

It’s not a date of his choosing.

It’s not the year of his choosing.

In fact, he’s not ready to retire. Given his preference, he’d be working through September 2010. That would give him 50 years, a private milestone.

People who know him wonder in amazement when he actually takes time off to go on vacation. He likes going to work. He likes the people he works with. He enjoys his work.

But, my dad — and 1,184 other local employees of Delphi — have no choice.

In April, retirement was the best, the safest — and the only — option those workers had because no one knew what the future bore for employees of the company.

He feels the same as many of those interviewed this week about the Delphi bankruptcy:

“Dumped on.”

“Angry.”

“Dreading.”

“Forced out.”

“Screwing all of us.”

A large number of retirees worked their last day Sept. 29. Those who took the latest attrition or buyouts are also leaving on Fridays.

The next big day of retirements will be a Tuesday — Oct. 31, Halloween. Trick or treat. I’m guessing those heading out the door will feel tricked.

That will be followed by Nov. 30, a Thursday, with the last — and likely largest — number of coming retirees are to work their final day Dec. 31.

That, however, is a Sunday in the midst of the Christmas shutdown.

More likely, the last day in the plant for hundreds of workers will be Dec. 22. Merry Christmas.

Sona Camp, president of 292, dreads those days.

“It’s a sad day every Friday as they leave,” she said. “People are leaving all the time. You think it can’t get any worse, but it is. Now it’s here.

“People have cried on my shoulder, and it breaks my heart. All those years of work and dedication to the company and union. It breaks my heart.”

Happy retirement.

John Dempsey may be contacted at (765) 854-6739 or by e-mail at john.dempsey@kokomotribune.com

        

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