By Doug Cunningham

Another body blow to autoworkers is coming from Daimler-Chrysler, where 13,000 jobs will be cut and plants closed in a restructuring. United Autoworkers President Ron Gettelfinger says this is devastating news for thousands of workers and their families as well as their communities. The UAW says once again, ill-conceived trade policies have led to tremendous hardship for working families. The union says it will do all it can to hold Daimler-Chrysler to its commitment to develop new products to grow the business. Gettelfinger also says the UAW will negotiate an attrition program and use the job security program that's in place to lessen the impact of the job losses. These jobs cuts will also be an issue at the bargaining table this year as the UAW and the domestic automakers forge a new national contract.