Analysis and discussion of issues that impact business

 You almost don't know what to say as the news just keeps on coming.

Another 1,400 hourly workers have decided to accept auto supplier Delphi Corp.’s buyout offers, meaning that the struggling company will lose more than 70 percent of its work force by the end of the year.

Those numbers are hard to fathom.

You knew it was coming, but it's another thing to see the actual numbers.

Delphi, the former parts-making wing of General Motors Corp., said the work force reduction will help transform its U.S. manufacturing operations. Delphi, the nation’s largest auto parts supplier, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.

Transform is a major understatement.

Delphi released the buyout numbers Tuesday, bringing to 20,100 the number of its production workers who have decided to leave this year either through buyout offers or early retirement packages.

The only thing missing was a loudspeaker with a voice declaring "abandon ship!"

Delphi had 27,500 unionized workers as of June 30, and 12,400 United Auto Workers union members previously accepted early retirement and buyout offers. Another 6,300 members of the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communications Workers of America also will take buyouts or early retirements, Delphi said.

I'm not sure whether the glass is half-full or half-empty.

The buyouts of up to $140,000 per worker are another victory for current members of the UAW but another loss for the future of the union and for organized labor as union membership dwindles.

I think the future of the union's political clout is fairly safe as the size of public sector unions grows as the size of government grows.

All Delphi workers who accepted the early retirement and buyout offers will be off the payroll by Jan. 1, with several thousand replaced by lower-paid temporary workers as the company closes or sells 21 of its 29 U.S. plants, Delphi spokesman Lindsey Williams said.

That's the reality of the fire sale that Delphi has become.

GM has agreed to provide financial support under the plan.

As if GM is really in a position to support anyone.

Delphi continues to negotiate with GM and its unions on wage reductions for its remaining hourly workers.

So, the begging and pleading will continue. I'm sure the thinking remains: A smaller Delphi is better than no Delphi. We'll see.