Meeting on hold for GM and FCA heads

In the wake of alleged corruption in contract negotiations between Fiat

Chrysler and the United Auto Workers, General Motors filed suit, taking Fiat Chrysler to court and alleging that the resulting agreement placed GM at a disadvantage. Recently, in an unprecedented and completely unexpected twist, the federal district court judge presiding over the case, Paul Borman, ordered the CEOs of the two companies to meet and work out an equitable solution. After noting that both companies are important to the economic fabric of the country and that both had been rescued by the federal government from bankruptcy, the judge said, “Today our country needs and deserves that these now healthy, great companies to pay us back by also focusing on rescuing this country and its citizens from the plagues of COVID-19, racism and injustice, while building the best motor vehicles in the world.” The meeting was to have been between Mary Barra of General Motors and Michael Manley of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

GM objected and appealed, however. As a result, the meeting was put on hold by the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pending a full review of the lower court’s ruling.