
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 20, 1991                   TAG: 9104200140
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

GE RETIREES' RALLY TO FOCUS ON PENSIONS

Local retired employees of General Electric Co. plan a demonstration Tuesday seeking better pension benefits. James E. Robinson, a leader of the retirees, said the company has not adjusted its cost-of-living payments to pensions since January 1988. In that period, he said, prices have risen 16 percent.

Robinson says the Local 161, International Union of Electronic Workers, has more than 640 retired members.

The demonstration at the front gate of GE's Salem plant, is part of a national movement timed for the eve of the GE stockholders meeting, he said. Joining IUE will be the 13 other international unions which will begin bargaining with GE on May 29 toward renewal of a labor contract that expires June 30.

Robinson said retirees "have seen a continual drop in the purchasing power of their pension benefits" while the value of the GE Pension Trust Fund has more than doubled from $9.7 billion to $22.2 billion since 1984. Since the fund's projected benefit obligations amount to $16.7 billion, he said it is "overfunded" by $5.5 billion.

- Staff report

by CNB