GM Puts Fired Union Leader Back to Work

08/01/96

GM announced that Al Alli will return to his former job at GM's Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant. Alli will be reinstated as chairman of UAW Local 1112, where he will lead local plant negotiations.

GM fired Alli on April 13, triggering a three-day wildcat strike at Lordstown where workers assemble GM's popular Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire small cars.

GM said they fired Alli for using a fraudulent time card procedures to obtain pay for time that he had not worked. The automaker alleged that in one incident two years ago, Alli's time and attendance cards were stamped to show that he was at work when he was in Las Vegas.

GM and the UAW released a joint statement concerning Alli's reinstatement. GM Vice President of Personnel Gerald Knechtel and UAW Vice President Richard Shoemaker said Alli was reinstated "following in-depth discussions in the grievance procedure regarding the importance of employees properly recording their actual time at work, and management's requirement to properly pay such employees."

The statement said that Alli will not receive back pay for the time he was unemployed, and that a long-term disciplinary layoff will remain on his record. UAW sources said Alli's layoff had been a sticking point in triennial labor contract negotiations at GM, which began in June.

GM and the UAW also reported that they had "renewed commitment to promptly addressing issues raised by either party and maintaining and improving the Lordstown assembly plant operations and the quality of its products."

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel