By THOMAS HARTLEY
Business First

Delphi Corp. retirees, including retired white-collar workers at Delphi Thermal Systems in Lockport, have mounted a legal fight against a company attempt to end their health-care and insurance benefits.

About 15,000 retirees, including an estimated several hundred in Western New York, would be affected if the company's plan is approved.

Legal objections and letters supporting the workers were filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York Tuesday, the deadline.

Among them were letters from Western New York elected leaders, including Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, retiree Paul Higgins of Barker said.

Three law firms - in Chicago, San Francisco and Ohio - have been retained by the former workers who formed the Delphi Salaried Retiree Association Monday, Higgins said.

The San Francisco firm, Farella Braun Martel LLP, represented Delta Airlines employees in 2006.

The United Auto Workers union, which represents salaried workers at two Delphi plants, joined in filing an objection Feb. 17.

Delphi entered its motion Feb. 5. If approved, the retirees' benefits could be cut off April 1.

A hearing to consider the company's request and retirees' objections is scheduled for Feb. 24.

"The judge is supposed to make his decision on whether he grants Delphi's request or stops Delphi and forms a committee of retirees to work with the trustee in Chapter 11," Higgins said.

"That would allow retirees to have a voice in the bankruptcy process like secured and unsecured creditors," he said.

Delphi Corp. filed for Chapter 11 protection in October 2005.