KETTERING -- Larry Dykes spent four decades working for General Motors as a salaried engineer and manager. The Miami Twp. resident came to work each day with the understanding that when he retired, it would be with certain benefits. But when Dykes retired in 2003, it was as a Delphi retiree -- and that became a problem.

Dykes spent the last four years of his career working for the auto parts producer. Now, the 68-yearold faces a future without company-backed health care and life insurance benefits and a monthly pension controlled by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., a pension that in all likelihood will be greatly reduced.