Nearly all the affected workers were or are employees of private companies that operated government factories.

The affected workers had little recourse to their situation.

Sears said it would offer early retirement and other benefits to the affected workers.

But he added that "social shields" were necessary to protect affected workers.

Severance packages and continued health coverage will be offered to the affected workers.

Two affected workers were "close to death," the state press reported today.

This will be traumatic for thousands of affected workers.

Although the number of affected workers is small, labor organizers said the agreement was unprecedented.

In Canada, it has helped reduce unemployment time from 22 to 7 weeks for affected workers.

Sikorsky said the affected workers would have access to the company's job placement program.