Trane Must Arbitrate Aspects of Auto Workers’ Benefits Dispute

The Eighth Circuit ordered Trane Inc. to arbitrate one of the benefits-related grievances brought by an Auto Workers’ union on behalf of employees who lost their jobs when the manufacturer shut down its Arkansas plant.

The union grievance over a “bridge” benefit providing severance pay is arbitrable under the pertinent collective bargaining agreement, but the grievance over a temporary pension supplement benefit isn’t, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit ruled Friday. The court partially reversed the Western District of Arkansas’ finding that neither grievance was arbitrable.

United Automobile Workers Local 716 represents workers who were employed at ...