JoeSchmoo

The VEBA is for retiree & spouse health care. It's administered by a trust of IUAW, Ford and independent Trustees. The VEBA is not subject to collective bargaining. Yes, it has a lot of money in it. Over time and the morbid truth of retirees and spouses passing on, leave room for more to come in to it. Its up to the VEBA Trustees to bring more people in to it, not the IUAW or Ford. EESP, Joint Apprenticeship, Tuition Assistance and a lot of other programs are subject to collective bargaining since these are programs for active workers. Any increase in pension payments or bonuses ARE NOT SUBJECT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. In the past, any pension increases or bonuses, were hand shake deals and Ford would agree to pay the increase or bonus difference. Since 2008, they have washed their hands of retirees and formally said they won't contribute to retirees again. The pension fund is another fund that its administered by a trust, similarly structured like the VEBA. Joe Schmoo