Legal move pushes GM retiree plan ahead

The United Auto Workers and attorneys representing several retirees have sued General Motors Corp. in an effort to get court approval to shift billions in retiree healthcare costs from the automaker to an independent trust fund. The fund would cover about 500,000 GM retirees and spouses, plus current UAW workers when they retire. The lawsuit is not a hostile action--GMwill not oppose its major points and joined the UAW and retirees in filing a settlement agreement that would govern how the trust would be run.