General Motors and the United Auto Workers union begin their contract negotiations this morning.
The UAW represents 49,000 hourly employees, who say they gave up a lot four years ago and would like to get some pay and benefits back.
Handshakes kicked off the negotiations from management and the UAW at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant, but it will be weeks, if not months of talks before they get back to shaking hands.
In 2007, workers agreed to lowers percentages of profit sharing, no cost of living increases, eye and dental benefits cut for retirees, and a two tier system where new workers make roughly half of veteran employees.
Workers would like to get them all back, but timing is tough because of the bailout.
GM CEO Dan Akerson says, "We have a sacred obligation, all of us, to deliver on the promise and helping hand that the American people extended to this company in its hour of need."
GM Flint Assembly worker Tim Shoup says, "I would just as soon see maybe keeping what we have without losing any more or make some very small gains. I think most of the people would be happy with that."
However, Flint GM retiree Tim Coan says it's not fair that retirees have to continue to pay union dues while getting no voice at the table. "They're talking about maybe profit sharing, well let's do something from the retirees too because we're the people who put them where they're at," says Coan.
The UAW is a tough spot, fighting for benefits but not wanting to bring negative attention to its workers, product, or the company.
One tool GM UAW workers can not use is a strike. There is a "no strike" clause that keeps them from striking until 2016.
The UAW says it would also like GM to make a commitment to more American jobs and promise not to send jobs overseas.
