Lordstown workers go to federal court this week in suit against GM

Lordstown workers go to federal court this week in suit against GM

By Karl Henkel

khenkel@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Twenty-eight General Motors Lordstown workers will begin court proceedings Wednesday stemming from an April 30 lawsuit.

The workers, represented by Atty. Ken Myers of Cleveland, allege that GM violated the collective-bargaining agreement resulting in loss of pay and seniority, and the United Auto Workers violated its duty to fairly represent its members.

GM’s lawyers declined comment.

A case-management conference will take place at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Thomas D. Lambros Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse here.

Case-management conferences occur at the beginning of court cases; both parties meet with Judge Benita Y. Pearson. Dates and times will then be scheduled for future proceedings.

The suit says GM first violated the collective-bargaining agreement when it extended the workers’ temporary status, which began in 2006, without proper approval.

The 28 employees were fired in April 2007, then rehired seven months later as permanent employees with seniority, the suit says.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.