WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the arguments of salaried Delphi retirees.

This was a major effort for salaried Delphi retirees to have their pensions restored.

Delphi, formerly Packard Electric, filed for bankruptcy back in 2005. The bankruptcy filing caused most of the company's salaried employees to lose their pensions, while union workers were made whole.

Since that time, salaried employees have been fighting to get their pensions back, taking the case all the way to the highest court in the country.

Their filing against the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, a government-created group formed to ensure pensions, filed a brief in December 2021 opposing the Delphi Salaried Retirees Associations' request to have the claim heard.

They argued in the filing that an appeals court and other courts have ruled that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act permits terminations of pension plans under the agreement with plan administrators.

"I'm having to deal with people who are calling me in tears, widows who have been left with nothing, people who lost their homes and people who are almost despondent," said Bruce Gump, retired Delphi worker. "Nobody is angry at us, but they are very unhappy with the people who did this to us. They believe they were just as valuable as the folks that were represented by the major unions."

The PBGC also denied that the salaried retirees’ due process rights were violated, claiming the Delphi workers had an opportunity to fight the termination of their pensions during the bankruptcy court proceedings.

The nearly 21,000 Delphi Salaried Retirees hoped the support from several members of Congress would help their efforts to restore their pensions.

"Even though President Biden said when he came through during the campaign that we deserved our pensions and that he would work to get them for us, he responded saying that legislation would be required," Gump said. 

Representatives Bill Johnson, Tim Ryan, Mike Turner and Dan Kildee in Michigan as well as Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown all pledged their support for the Delphi retirees. Attorneys General from several states, including Ohio's have also filed briefs supporting the retirees.

Some lawmakers say they will still try to use legislation to help retirees.

"I believe the Supreme Court erred in not hearing the case brought by the Delphi retirees," said Congressman Bill Johnson (R). "These hardworking Americans worked hard for, and counted on, the pensions they earned. This wrong must be righted. Congress should come together and put any partisan differences aside and solve this once and for all. It’s the right thing to do." 
 
Congressman Tim Ryan (D) said in a statement, "I am deeply disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case brought by the Delphi retirees against the PBGC to restore their pensions. When the Delphi Salaried Pension Plan was terminated, this devastated the long-term financial security of the almost 22,000 salaried employees at Delphi whose benefits were subsequently reduced. Today’s decision highlights the need for Congressional action to restore their pensions and provide them with the retirement benefits that they have always deserved. I will continue to work with my colleagues in both parties to do just that.”
 
Congressman Mike Turner (R) voiced his disapproval with the court's decision saying, "I am deeply frustrated that once again, the Delphi Salaried Retirees are being denied an opportunity to restore their hard-earned retirement benefits. However, this decision will not stop me from pursuing legislative remedies and urging the Biden Administration to get them the answers and treatment they deserve."
 

Rep. Turner also took to Twitter:

"It's complicated that it's taking a while," Gump added. "They're getting their wording together, but, we're hopeful. It's really going to be up to the expertise of the Congressmen to figure out the best way to make that work come forward and we are depending on them."

It is unclear when lawmakers could move forward with a plan of action.