Judge OKs Delphi settlements

Warren workers are the last to vote on the pact.

STAFF/WIRE REPORTS

NEW YORK — A federal judge on Thursday approved four more settlements that auto parts supplier Delphi Corp. reached with its labor unions — leaving only the Steelworkers union at the bargaining table.

Judge Robert Drain of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan approved Delphi’s new labor agreement with the four unions, including the IUE-CWA, which represents more than 2,000 Delphi workers — about 1,050 of them at plants in Warren, and the Dayton suburbs of Kettering and Moraine.

These workers had threatened to strike if a deal wasn’t reached.

Members of IUE Local 717 in Warren are scheduled to vote today and Saturday on the pact, said Lauren Asplen, national IUE spokeswoman.

Asplen said Warren workers are the last to vote on the pact. She added that results won’t be made public until all the votes have been tallied.

Other pacts

Judge Drain also approved the labor pacts Delphi reached with the International Association of Machinists, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the International Union of Operating Engineers.

IUE-CWA members haven’t ratified the settlement, but members of the other unions have already approved the deals, according to Delphi attorney Jack Butler of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Butler said the auto parts maker is still negotiating with the United Steelworkers, which represents about 1,000 Delphi workers, including 860 at plants in Dayton and Vandalia.

Delphi said the union settlements, a significant step toward the company’s exit from bankruptcy protection, cover work force transition, legacy pension issues and other “comprehensive transformational matters.”

The bankruptcy court last month approved Delphi’s new labor agreement with its biggest union, the United Auto Workers, which represents 17,000 Delphi workers.

Also Thursday, Judge Drain approved the $75 million sale of Delphi’s catalyst business to Belgian metals company Umicore SA.

Umicore initially offered to buy the unit for $55.6 million and to serve as the lead bidder at an auction for the business. Auctions are required in bankruptcy to ensure creditors will receive the highest price for the assets being sold.

Bidders drove up the price more than $20 million at the Aug. 8 auction.

Delphi, the former parts-making unit of General Motors Corp., filed for Chapter 11 in October 2005.