Thursday, July 23, 1998

GM, UAW begin arbitration as number of idled workers exceeds 200,000

By BRIAN S. AKRE

Associated Press

DETROIT - The number of workers idled by the strikes against General Motors Corp. surpassed 200,000 on Wednesday, as GM and United Auto Workers lawyers met with an arbitrator to argue whether the walkouts were legal.

The automaker said that in addition to the 9,200 strikers, about 192,800 employees at 27 assembly plants and more than 100 parts plants across North America have been affected by the strikes at two parts plants in Flint, Mich.

The total swelled as the automaker idled its Pontiac East truck plant near Detroit, sending 3,400 workers home. The plant had only recently begun pilot production of GM's new generation of full-size pickups.

The company on Tuesday halted production at its pickup plant in Oshawa, Ontario, one of only three assembly plants that until this week had remained in production despite the strikes. About 3,000 workers were laid off there.

The latest shutdowns were a major blow to GM's determined efforts to keep the launch of the '99 pickups on schedule for fall. The big pickup is GM's best-selling vehicle and among the most profitable. Any delay could cost the automaker millions of dollars in lost share of the coveted truck segment.

The focus of the strikes shifted Wednesday from the stalled negotiations in Flint to a closed meeting room at a Detroit hotel. About 100 lawyers, officials and witnesses gathered to hear opening arguments, GM spokeswoman Charlotte Grim said.

The hearing lasted about seven hours, with breaks. Opening arguments were completed and the arbitrator was to begin hearing testimony Thursday, according to union sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Arbitrator Thomas T. Roberts, GM and UAW officials declined to comment. GM and hotel security officers restricted reporters and cameras to the sidewalk outside.

GM contends the walkouts involve disputes of a national scope over which the union may not strike. The UAW says the strikes are legal under the contract because they are primarily over local issues, such as alleged plant health and safety violations and production rules.

The arbitrator's ruling could turn the direction of the strikes.

If he grants the company's grievance, the No. 1 automaker likely will seek an order sending the 9,200 strikers back to work at two Flint parts plants. It also may seek damages from the union for the more than $1.2 billion the strikes have cost it in lost production.