The tentative health care agreement between the United Auto Workers and General Motors will include many firsts for workers. For the first time, G.M. retirees will have to pay deductibles, monthly premiums and co-payments for services like X-rays. In addition to retiree concessions, G.M.'s active workers are also being asked to make their own concession by giving up $1 an hour in 2006 by deferring cost-of-living adjustments and planned wage increases.
See "Union Offers Details of Health Deal With G.M.", Danny Hakim and Jeremy W. Peters, The New York Times, October 20, 2005