United Auto Workers President Bob King said he would prefer to avoid arbitration on a union complaint that Ford Motor Co. salaried employees didn't sacrifice as much as hourly workers to help the company survive.

A hearing before an arbitrator is set for Sept. 15, a day after Ford's contract covering 41,000 U.S. workers expires. More than 35,000 Ford union members, who gave up pay increases and bonuses, signed the grievance last year after the company reinstated raises, tuition aid and 401(k) matches for white- collar employees.

"You always try to work out a settlement if you can without going to arbitration," King said in an interview yesterday at the union's headquarters in Detroit. "If we can't work something out, then arbitration is a last option."

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