Can the judge force them to “mediate” with the union? That’s my impression.
Bankruptcy judges have a pretty wide swath of powers in the interests of the creditors and owners of a company.
The judge was able to impose the deal on the unions in the first place, which is why the Baker’s union went on strike. The Teamsters took the deal, the bakers balked.
What the judge cannot do is force the owners or investors to toss in more money than they already have (at least to my knowledge of BK law).
Here, the judge can try to mediate a deal under the notion that by so doing, there’s a chance at preserving investor capital and creditor principle.
Can the judge force them to “mediate” with the union? That’s my impression.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Union law is such a hodge podge from state to state. Maybe the judge can order binding arbitration, but the funny thing is that in this case it would be the same as seling the business to the Union. Get the Union to put up its pension funds as colateral and let the Union RUN the business and see if they can save it.
If not, tell the Union to take a hike, and order it back to work.