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GM Lowers Retirement Age for Salaried Workers: General Motors, trying to trim its work force without layoffs, has reduced the age at which some salaried employees can qualify for an early retirement program. Under the new program, some U.S. and Canadian white-collar workers can retire at age 50. The early retirement offering is GM’s second this year. The earlier program allowed retirement at age 53 with 10 years of service. Under the new plan, GM workers in overstaffed units can retire at 50, while others can leave at 52 with the same benefits, if they have 10 years of service. GM declined to say how many workers would be eligible. The new program is good through the end of 1992.