GM, UAW Meet With Arbitrator

Attorneys representing the United Auto Workers union and General Motors Corp. are meeting Wednesday in Detroit with a veteran arbitrator who will rule whether the walkouts by strikers are legal.

The two sides will present their cases before Thomas Roberts, a lawyer from Rolling Hills, Calif. For the past 11 years, Roberts has been the designated arbitrator between the company and its union.

Both sides can't even agree on the issues behind the walkout. GM believes the cause is over a nationwide disagreement, which is not allowed under its contract with the company's biggest union.

The UAW claims the walkouts are legal because they are over issues which are local in character, such as alleged plant health, safety violations, and production rules.

If Roberts rules in favor of GM, the company will most likely seek an order to have the 9,200 workers return to the two Flint, Mich., parts plants. The company may also seek damages from the union for losing more than $1.2 billion in production.

The arbitration hearing was formally ordered last week by U.S. District Judge Paul V. Gadola in Flint.

Gadola has warned both parties not to delay or prolong arbitration, or face contempt-of-court citations and fines. Gadola's jurisdiction will also be responsible for enforcing the hearing's decision and any award.

If the hearing continues for more than two days, the location of the talks will move to a hotel in Flint for Friday and Saturday.

Negotiations at the two plants in Flint were held Tuesday, without any reported progress.