Laid-Off Auto Worker Arrested in Stabbing : Crime: Police say the UAW local’s president was attacked during an argument over contributions.

A laid-off Pacoima auto worker, angered that the president of his UAW local refused to refund union contributions, stabbed the union officer Wednesday in Van Nuys, Los Angeles police said.

Jerry Shrieves, 50, president of United Auto Workers Local 645, was taken to Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills with a chest wound. Hospital spokeswoman Maggie Cessar said the blade missed his heart and lungs. “He’s going to be OK,” she said.

A suspect identified as Samuel Mines, 33, stabbed Shrieves about 2:30 p.m. during an argument in the union hall in the 7900 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, Police Lt. Richard Blankenship said. The local represents about 3,000 employees of the General Motors plant across the street, where Mines had once worked. The plant produces Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds.

Mines fled but was arrested at his Pacoima home in the 11200 block of Phillippi Avenue near Pierce Street without incident at about 6:30 p.m., police said. He was being held at Van Nuys Jail in lieu of $40,000 bail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

“Mines had made some contributions to a fund and he wanted his contribution back,” Blankenship said. “Shrieves said he couldn’t oblige him--that led to an altercation in which Shrieves was stabbed.”

The union leader was stabbed with a folding knife that had a blade about four inches long, Blankenship said. He said a similar knife was found in the suspect’s possession.

Police did not know the nature of the contribution that Mines sought returned, nor how long he had been laid off. Union officials declined to comment on the case, saying a statement would be released this morning.

A “closed” sign was posted on the union hall Wednesday afternoon.

Workers milled around the parking lot. “You might as well leave, we don’t remember a thing,” a man who declined to give his name told a reporter.

At the hospital, a union member who declined to be identified said that as he entered the hall after his shift ended, he saw the wounded Shrieves telephoning other union officials to tell them of his stabbing.

It was not clear how long Shrieves had been president of the local. He was reelected for a three-year term last year. Several union members, who would not give their names, said he has been president of the local for the past five years.

In recent years, the plant’s work force has decreased as General Motors cut back production. The plant’s future was thrown into doubt in October, 1989, when GM announced that when it introduces the next generation of the Camaro and Firebird, assembly will be moved to its plant in Ste. Therese, Canada, a move that could take place next year.