GM Says Almost 19,000 UAW Members Accepted Buyouts

General Motors Corp., in its final tally of union buyouts, said 18,657 United Auto Workers members accepted packages to leave the largest U.S. automaker, clearing the way for hiring lower-paid employees in its home market.

The UAW members, representing about one-quarter of GM's union workforce, will depart by July 1, GM spokesman Tony Sapienza said in an interview. GM has already begun hiring replacement workers who will start at lower wages, part of the national accord approved by the UAW in October.

The new workers start at about half the salary of current employees, helping Detroit-based GM in its efforts to slash costs and restore profit. The automaker has had three straight years of losses and is in the midst of a ninth straight annual U.S. sales decline.

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