DETROIT --
General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC moved to reduce costs as required by the terms of the federal bailout loans they were granted earlier this month to keep both auto makers from running out of cash.
GM on Wednesday said it has reached an agreement with the United Auto Workers union to end the so-called jobs bank program, in which laid-off workers continued to get most of their pay.
Separately, Chrysler issued a letter to at least some of its suppliers saying "all production suppliers" will have to cut their prices by April 1. The letter doesn't specify the size of the cuts Chrysler is seeking.
Ending the jobs bank and winning concessions from constituents -- such as suppliers, the UAW and dealers -- are among the requirements the auto makers must fulfill to remain in compliance with the terms of the loans they have received. So far, GM has received $9.4 billion and is in line to get an additionall $4 billion next month. Chrysller has received $4 billion and hopes to borrow $3 billion more by the end of March.
Both companies are also required to negotiate with their banks and bondholders to reduce their debt, and must limit executive pay. They must present restructuring plans by Feb. 17 that show they can become "viable."
On Wednesday, the Treasury released loan contracts showing that the two companies also must provide the government with detailed monthly financial reports through 2010 and submit annual reports from 2010 through 2014.
Ending the jobs bank means 1,600 GM workers will be classified as laid off and must apply for state and federal unemployment benefits. Workers will receive some GM-subsidized payments along with their unemployment benefits, which means they will continue to earn about 72% of their pay.
The move will allow cash-strapped GM to use state unemployment benefits to help cover some of the costs of paying the workers. Chrysler ended its jobs bank program Monday, forcing about 1,000 workers to seek unemployment compensation.
The UAW had previously agreed to suspend the jobs bank in a bid to help GM and Chrysler win government aid.
Chrysler informed suppliers of the price cuts in a letter Monday from its head of purchasing. The letter also said Chrysler is freezing what the company will pay for raw materials, even if costs rise.
The existence of the letter was earlier reported by Automotive News.
Some suppliers said they hadn't received the letter. A supplier senior executive familiar with the letter said the price cuts will hurt many parts makers that are already ailing.
Automotive suppliers are seeking $10 billion from Washington themselves to help them weather the tough times.
"It's obviously a financial hardship at the worst possible time," the executive said. "We are operating in a very, very challenging environment already. We're not making money, and essentially what they're asking is for us to take greater losses," this person said.
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