Federal judge to rule soon in workers' case against GM/UAW

YOUNGSTOWN

U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson says she plans to rule “as soon as reasonably possible” after listening to more than three hours of arguments Friday on a lawsuit filed against General Motors, United Auto Workers Local 1112 and the UAW International Union.

The litigation was brought by 28 Lordstown workers whose pay was significantly cut in 2008.

Attorney Ken Myers of Independence, who represents the 28, said he thinks the ruling could come in the next 30 to 60 days.

The lawsuit, filed in 2011, asks the court to rule that GM violated the collective bargaining agreement by threatening their jobs if they did not reclassify their positions as entry level and accept lower pay. They also have accused their union of violating its representation responsibilities by failing to file a grievance on their behalf. The workers are asking for $3 million in back pay.

“We went from $24 to $26 an hour down to $14 an hour,” Mark Dragomier of Lordstown told The Vindicator. Dragomier is the principal plaintiff in the case.

The employees, who lost their jobs during GM’s financial struggles in 2007, were rehired in early 2008 at their previous wage levels. They say two months later they were given no alternative but to reclassify as entry level.

Read more about the case in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.