Even if the UAW agreed to further closings, GM has a structural problem. It needs to generate cash from vehicle sales to keep funding pension and health care plans -- which is why the company has persisted in offering discounts of $4,000 and more on new vehicles, a practice that eats profit but keeps products moving.

As GM's market share continues to go down, though, it burns cash faster. Now that Standard & Poor's has cut the company's bond rating below investment grade, GM will have a hard time borrowing more money. Ultimately that predicament could lead to bankruptcy, although the company points out that it has significant cash on hand.

Follow steel's example?
One solution could be to follow the example of the U.S. steel industry, which cut health benefits for retirees and jettisoned pensions to the government's Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Many Baltimore workers know that is possible but refuse to believe it could happen to them.

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"I don't think they're really in financial trouble," said Hollis, the 42-year plant veteran. "General Motors will do okay."

Others are less sure. "I can't say in five years my pension won't get cut off," Hellmig said. "I don't know. You can only hope it will last."

Fitch, whose wife is awaiting a lung transplant, has extra reason to worry because of enormous medical bills. But he hit it rich just over a year ago, winning $500,000 from the Maryland lottery. He bought a Chevy truck, a small boat and some jewelry for his wife, and invested the rest in case he needs it to pay doctors.

"If we don't need it, then we'll have some fun," he said. In the meantime, Fitch declined a buyout from GM and will stay on the payroll. It's possible he'll get called in to do odd jobs for GM dealers in the Baltimore area, such as washing cars or cleaning up. That's fine by him. "I don't mind working. I like going to work," he said. "I'm just used to doing it."

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