Benefits, especially health care and retirement, are
a hot topic in the automotive industry. Thus the media pays keen interest when any manufacturer makes sweeping new
changes.
Nissan Motor Co. announced that all employees hired after January 1st will receive a 401(k)-type
plan instead of the company’s traditional pension plan. Also, employees and early retirees in manufacturing who
did not turn 65 at the end of 2005 would receive an annual stipend for health-care issues instead of the regular
insurance policy upon retirement. This plan goes into effect at the beginning of 2007.
The changes were not
unexpected by Nissan employees.
“I knew it was going to happen,” said David Gore, a retired
Nissan manager. “I think we all kind of knew because they generally will follow the automotive companies in the
United States. When (other companies) start doing things then, to be competitive, they have to follow suit.”