In a move that may threaten production at General Motors, the United Auto Workers union went on strike against American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. earlier today. The UAW work stoppage, the third called by the union within the past six months, centered around wages, benefits, and concerns that the company may be moving production to Mexico.
American Axle is the sole axle supplier to GM for light trucks such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. The company supplies axles, shafts, and related components to other automakers, as well. As the four-year contract with the UAW neared the end of its term and the strike loomed, American Axle did stockpile its inventory. It is unclear, however, just how much supply is on hand. It may not need to last long, as analysts expect a negotiated settlement to end the strike within several days. This is good news for everyone, especially the workers who are walking the picket lines outside in the freezing snow.
[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd, Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Commuter @ Feb 26th 2008 4:56PM
These guys are so clueless it hurts.
"Pay me double what the competitors charge for the same product or I'll walk in circles by the gate!"
Good luck with that.
geo.stewart @ Feb 26th 2008 6:38PM
natural born idiots.
Tagg @ Feb 26th 2008 7:27PM
Thats putting their skill set to the test! If they could assemble cars and trucks with the precsion they can walk in circles both Ford and GM would be in much better shape!
Jruhi4 @ Feb 26th 2008 4:58PM
According to a Detroit News article: "The parts maker, anticipating the strike threat, accumulated about three days' worth of parts for GM. After that, however, the automaker would likely quickly feel the effect of a stoppage."
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/AUTO01/802260333/1148
Brent @ Feb 26th 2008 4:59PM
Strike!, so you can have your job moved even faster!
L.Wood @ Feb 26th 2008 5:13PM
That's a pretty nice looking oval the strikers have worn through the thin snow pack. Are these guys Nascar fans or what?
Atropos @ Feb 26th 2008 5:16PM
Damn these people who want more money. Don't they realize that with spiraling house prices, they should be giving money BACK??
Wait a second....
speeds @ Mar 5th 2008 10:35AM
there not asking for money, there asking to keep what they have!!!!!!lets be real, if your making 20.00 an hour and they come and tell you today we are taking away 10.00, you would to fight for what you believe in!!!!!
Toby @ Feb 26th 2008 5:17PM
The UAW better start paying attention.
The Big 3 may just get fed up and buy them all out and completely move auto manufacturing out of the country.
These member are not entitled to a job.
Chad @ Feb 26th 2008 5:32PM
I personally think we should slap tariffs on foreign branded and/or manufactured autos. That includes domestic branded built in other countries. Japan does it, why shouldn't we?
jgp @ Feb 26th 2008 5:32PM
Next: American Axle moves all production to Mexico.
Danny Boy @ Feb 26th 2008 5:59PM
Clearly they come in strong numbers to protest.
johne @ Feb 26th 2008 6:36PM
Why all the harsh comments about unionized workers? Is there something wrong with fighting to get paid an honest days pay for an honest days work? You do realize that German auto workers are unionized and while the Japanese aren't they generally have fairly high job security anyway.
Tagg @ Feb 26th 2008 7:26PM
There is nothing wrong with an honest days pay but is $60-65 per hour (that includes benefits and was just reported by multiple sources thats what many senior workers make) honest for their skill set? Why should they make that kind of money with out any skills and then complain, constantly about how hard they have it.
Also, most of Europe if not all of it as well as Asia is socialist in one form or another. So they don't have to give the insane amount of healthcare workers in the U.S. get. In fact, they barely get any yet the UAW here sees how "bad" the "worker" here has it.
I am all for fairness in pay and union works are not fairly paid they are overpaid and over protected.
todd @ Feb 26th 2008 7:46PM
This country is not that smart!!!!!!! the rich get richer!!!!! the poorer get poorer!!!! I know lets get rid of the middle class!!!!!!!!
geo.stewart @ Feb 26th 2008 6:46PM
yep, mgmt has played a heavy hand in the downfall of american car companies, no doubt.
but union workers as a group tend to be much more short-sighted and rather than look at the state of the union, look at how to get the most for them (and then the union bosses take their cut as well). Basically supporting the union means supporting another company that doesnt have a product (kind of like government sometimes).
of course mgmt in the US tends not to look past the current quarter's profits thanks to whoring out to those only interested in a quick return on investment.
MajorGeek @ Feb 26th 2008 7:11PM
@Chad, your correct, a tariff on imports would help level the playing field. Must be politics.
@Johne, I was a union worked for 14 or 15 years. The workers are lazy and do the bare minimum expecting high pay and medical benefits. Now, self employed I learned the value of working hard, this was never rewarded in a union shop, you get what you get simply by not getting fired, which in large unions is tough to get done. Many products suffer from quality because of the laziness and cost of unionized workers. Many companies have gone under or left to get away from these unions. Sadly, one of the first thing a company considers when times get tough is cutting pay or hours, if you have a union, their logical choice is to break it. Thats why the unionized people in this country have shrunk so much. Well, that and maybe some people want more then a mortgage on a crappy ranch home and a Ford Taurus and in the union, you make what you make.
In the USA I pay about 650 a month just for my health care, plus co-pays, one month I had a 2,000 total medical bill when everyone needed medical, dental and some optical. These guys have no concept what health care costs and what they earn just for that. I also work very hard to make MORE money and get more business, its what makes a company successful. If my small business had 20 lazy employees, I would be out of business. Finally, I have seen the so called union leaders, they will try and get you a piece of what you want, then get back to work, in the meantime it can take years to recover what a 3 months strike cost you in wages. Your union might offer you a few buck for a couple weeks because guess what, they are a business too. Its a joke, always has been. Thats why no one shows up to rally, its too damn cold and most expect it to be over within a month or two with little benefit to themselves, so why bother.
Thats how it is, unbiased.
PiCASSO @ Feb 26th 2008 7:31PM
Well said, MajorGeek.
Mark @ Feb 28th 2008 2:37PM
"I was a union worked for 14 or 15 years. The workers are lazy " What did you do for those 14 or 15 years,did you try to change things,extol the virtues of hard work to your fellow workers? I won't say that there are lazy "union" workers,there are lazy workers in private sector,fast food etc. My point is you cannot paint every union worker w/the same broad stroke,unless you are admitting to being lazy for 14 or 15 years while enjoying the benefits of union contracts. There is a wave of media that is trying to blame unions for the cause of the weak economy in US,common sense(I would hope) would see thru that. Every year corporate America tries to erode the workers rights for their monetary benefit. That's great if you are a stockholder but what about the rest of us (99%)? Just something to think about,there is a lot of blame to go around,don't heap it on the working. Just my .02...let the flaming begin!
todd @ Feb 26th 2008 7:45PM
Its to bad that people think bad of the union. Im a union member, and i worke hard every day. Yes its true there are lazy workers out there!!!! But not everybody is like that. But when you are a single minded person, who probably drives a forgein car!!! And probably has no problem with the teachers union!!! Just the uaw. Just look what food cost,medical cost,and everything else!!!! I KNOW ITS THE UNION WORKERS FAULT!!!!!! I GOT NEWS, YOU NEED TO WAKE UP!!! YOUR JOB WILL BE NEXT!!!!!!!