Another 6,000 Leave GM

American manufacturer GM announced today it has completed the latest attrition program set up to help it "reinvent the company as a leaner, more cost-competitive company." According to the figures provided by GM, more than 6,000 US hourly workers went for the program and left the company on August 1.

"We are pleased with the number of eligible employees who participated in the attrition program," Diana Tremblay, GM North America vice president of labor relations said in a release. "One of the very tough, but necessary actions to position the company for long-term viability and success is to reduce our total U.S. workforce, both hourly and salaried employees."

According to GM, out of the total number of GM workers who agreed to the attrition program, 40 percent were skilled trade employees and 35 percent left via buyouts. In all, since 2006, GM lost a total of 66,000 hourly workers under some type of special attrition program.

"Given the fact that this is the second special attrition program we offered this year, the program's success would indicate that employees had more clarity about the future of their facility," Tremblay added. "Results of this special attrition program will help GM lower its employment cost and close the competitive gap."

As for the future, GM plans to shed an additional 6,000 workers this year, mostly white-collar. Mid and upper management are not excluded from the cuts either, as GM will send home about 35 percent of its executive ranks. By the end of the year, GM will employ approximately 40,600 hourly workers.