Delphi retirees lose request for stay

NEW YORK, N.Y. - A bankruptcy court judge on Tuesday refused to stay his order allowing Delphi to eliminate health-care benefits for salaried retirees.

Delphi retirees affected are the salaried workers who wanted Judge Robert Drain to delay his order for up to 60 days.

Delphi won approval last month to end health-care benefits for 15,000 current and former salaried workers. The company said the move will save $70 million a year and eliminate $1.1 billion of debt, potentially helping it emerge from bankruptcy protection.

The Delphi Salaried Retiree Association is planning to appeal Drain's decision in U.S. District Court. The ruling would cut health and insurance benefits for the retirees within a matter of weeks.