Six United Transportation Union vice presidents and the group’s national legislative director may intervene as defendants in the lawsuit seeking to stop a merger with the Sheet Metal Workers union.

That was the June 18 ruling of Akron, Ohio, federal district court Judge John R. Adams.

The union officials support the merger, which was to have taken effect Jan.1 and would have created the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.

A group of UTU members filed suit, claiming they did not have time to adequately review the new union’s constitution, adding that there are potential problems with it.

The judge still must decide whether to issue a preliminary injunction against the merger, which would put it on hold indefinitely.;