Second delay sought on Dana contract ruling

6/1/2007

A U.S. Bankruptcy judge in Manhattan was asked yesterday to again delay his decision on Dana Corp. s request to nullify contracts with its labor unions.

Attorneys for the Toledo auto parts producer, the United Auto Workers, and the United Steelworkers jointly submitted a letter asking Judge Burton Lifl and to postpone his decision for two more weeks, until June 15. The delay was the second sought by the parties.

The judge had been expected to rule by yesterday. Dana wants to void the contracts so it can cut wages by a third to about $15 an hour, trim benefi ts, and end retiree health care benefits.

Dana has withdrawn a request to end contracts at plants in Upper Sandusky and Archbold in Ohio and in Columbia City in Indiana because of a possible sale of those operations.