American Axle makes new offer to UAW

Quoted, "The six-week strike has caused parts shortages that have closed or curtailed work at 29 General Motors Corp. factories, affecting about 39,000 hourly employees."

They failed to mention the companies that supply GM, who have had to lay off people. Or have had to shut down completely.

Ditto, Jack77. I hope that these people are proud that they are making life harder for more than just themselves. But it's about the principle of being able to afford swimming pools and three vacations a year, two vehicles, cell phones for their kids, etc, that they are fighting to keep.

You people are funny. Let's just say that everything you hear in the news about this process isn't exactly the truth. My father is the bargaining chairman for Local 2093 in Three Rivers. He's in Detroit as we speak and deeply involved in these talks. I can't give details for obvious reasons, but if you people could see the previous proposal from AAM, you'd fall on the floor laughing. It was an utter insult to the workers at all AAM plants. Only now, SEVEN weeks later, is AAM willing to actually start bargaining instead of dictating their terms to the UAW.

Stop believing everything you hear on the news about people's comfy lifestyles and stop the rhetoric about how all they want is to be able to keep their swimming pools and go on vacations. It's just not the case. Believe what you want, but it doesn't make it the truth.

These are hard working men and women who want to continue to work hard, support their families, and live the American dream. It's hard though when corporate greed threatens to take that from you every 3 years, or did you people forget that Dick Dauch (AAM's CEO) made almost $10 million last year??

And for those who think that lower wages will reduce the price of your vehicles...STOP DREAMING! That profit will go right in the pockets of the executives. If you believe so fervently that vehicle prices will go down, then tell me why GM vehicles that are currently assembled in Mexico don't cost less?

Now, all that being said, the UAW is willing to take a drop in wages, just not the ludicrous amount that Dauch originally wanted, and DEFINITELY NOT without some sort of buy-down so that they can adjust to their new wage.

Again, don't believe everything you hear in the news...

Jack and Jenn hit the nail on the head. This strike hurts most of Michigan. I happen to work for a supplier of a supplier, and we're feeling the effects of the slowed/stopped GM plants.

I don't know the details, but my guess is that American Axle is just doing what it feels it needs to do in order to remain/become competitive in a global economy. It's compete or shut down, in this world. The Union would rather take the company down than (insert small concession here). Personally, I say fire all the lazy bastards, hire some of the many unemployed Michiganders who actually WANT to work, and get the company, GM, and the rest of the state back to work.

I have no sympathy for strikes in this economy. Not when it brings down the entire state.

Brandon you are correct in saying that the CEO or AAM made 10 million last year. Do I agree with this amount depends? AAM make 34 million in profit last year which has been the basis of UAW complaints with wage cuts. Now the CEO should receive some credit for that 34 million profit last year. What I have not heard is the UAW or union supports mention the loss of 222 million that the company suffered the year previous. This amount alone without interest and finance charges is 6.5 years of profit at current rate. For the management of a major company to achieve a 256 million dollar swing in profits in one year shows some serious dedication and planning. I did not see the workers giving back to the company when they were loosing money? Yet a portion of CEO compensation is based on company performance. I do not agree with the massive cuts AAM is asking for but it is a starting point for negotiation. I am not opposed fighting for a fair wage, everyone deserves to earn a fair wage but these wages should be in line with competing industry. When wages are pushed above median income for the industry you now create an unfair advantage for the competition. Even the playing field lets bring unions into all industry for all workers so they can receieve a "fair wage" as defined by the union. Think about the results of that kind of move. Welcome to Mcdonalds a number on meal now costs $12.95.

Jonbob wrote:

Jack and Jenn hit the nail on the head. This strike hurts most of Michigan. I happen to work for a supplier of a supplier, and we're feeling the effects of the slowed/stopped GM plants.
I don't know the details, but my guess is that American Axle is just doing what it feels it needs to do in order to remain/become competitive in a global economy. It's compete or shut down, in this world. The Union would rather take the company down than (insert small concession here). Personally, I say fire all the lazy bastards, hire some of the many unemployed Michiganders who actually WANT to work, and get the company, GM, and the rest of the state back to work.
I have no sympathy for strikes in this economy. Not when it brings down the entire state.

This is my first night back at GM in 4 weeks. While it is true that strikes cause a lot of problems and downward spirals, it is essential to those employees who's wages are being cut down. If it was you, I guarantee you would do the same thing! Just put yourself in their shoes. If what they are bargaining is completely ridiculous, you wouldn't agree either. And I have heard we are expecting another 2 mos at least of this. Get used to it.

I support American Axle UAW workers a 100%. Nobody deserves to have there wages cut in half. Hang in there... A friend from local 730!

U r correct UU r correct uunet maybe correct. Remember the past sacrifices lead to the immediate proposal, if 39 million profit for the corp that 3,5 billion is less 1% for shareholders, how are the workers and their families feeling and dealing in Michigan, foodbanks, maybe, strike pay. maybe. unemployed, maybe, homeless, maybe, homeless children,

It looks like another loss for good American jobs as most of these will be heading for Mexico in the near future. The strikers in Three Rivers should know better. All they have to do is look North to the General Motors Plant in Kalamazoo that closed up. Now the 36th St General Motors Plant will also be considering doing the same thing. The Employees of there companies should be thinking of their kids future not a item that might cost them a few bucks a week at this time. Look at the lost wages of the American Axle workers as they have been out of work for 7 or 8 weeks now. How many other good paying jobs in Three Rivers?

now why would they state they loss so much the year before , that is because they can state the funding they are spending on the buyouts,retirements etc. I am pretty sure they didnt' lose 222million that year. this is just another way the corporate bigwigs cover their behinds .

excellant posting Brandon, I work at 3R.and appreciate what our bargaining chairman is trying to do for us, have heard a few stories also,sounds like he is on his toes and not letting Dauch or Ghetto-future get the better of him. keep up the good work, we are behind you and know you will do the right thing for all of us.

Jenn wrote:

Ditto, Jack77. I hope that these people are proud that they are making life harder for more than just themselves. But it's about the principle of being able to afford swimming pools and three vacations a year, two vehicles, cell phones for their kids, etc, that they are fighting to keep.

I dont really think you know what you are talking about but I'm not going to down talk you.

They don't live like that. They have kids they have to put thru college, house payment so it don't go into foreclosures, car payments, Insurance, you name, it's just like the rest of us. Have you ever herd they saying more money more problems, more problems more bills. Ok they may take a vacation 1 time a year so what they work hard and they should. Who are we to say they can't?

Why don't we tell the big guy on the top to cut down his wages.

They are lucky to have the union that supports them and does not let them get run down and treated like shit like the rest of us.

What is it with this sickness that believes working class people should not fight for what they need to survive. Where is it written that only the well-to-do, well-off, rich, wealthy and/or only those people in management positions have the right to expect to be appropriately compensated for their contributions to the business they work for?

It's written in the bible according to Bush and his apostles, that's where.

Hopefully the workers of american axle have taken their time off and maybe went to a community college to figure something else to do for a living see how their jobs probably wont be around much longer.

Thank Nafta, and a democratic administration, for sending so many jobs to Mexico or overseas. The current UAW is a dinosaur. Their intentions were good in the first half of the 20th century, however, enough improvements have been made since then that make the unions redundant and add a layer of cost to the products. They are the best example of an entitlement attitude in this country.
I used to work with a local automotive plant. They would want their 'emergency' shipment hand delivered to the plant. Sometimes, the 'emergency' was ziploc bags! When I got to shipping, the guy eating his donut told me to get help from the next guy. He was reading the paper, and referred me to the guy drinking his coffee.
This happened so often that now I understand why the Big Three are not competitive. Yes, the union workers have families to support. So do the people who's jobs have been outsourced, or are on layoff due to the strike.

This is precisely the reason that I will not buy an American car-aside from the fact that they are inferior, unsafe and unattractive. They support the entitled and uneducated workers that make up the majority of the UAW. What I cannot understand is why people with a high school education at best believe that they "deserve" to make $70k plus a year to drive a fork lift, push a button or work on an assembly line. The golden days of the Big 3 are long gone, and it's time people decide whether they would rather work or complain about what they think they "deserve" while they are obviously contributing nothing to this economy.

Buying European wrote:

This is precisely the reason that I will not buy an American car-aside from the fact that they are inferior, unsafe and unattractive. They support the entitled and uneducated workers that make up the majority of the UAW. What I cannot understand is why people with a high school education at best believe that they "deserve" to make $70k plus a year to drive a fork lift, push a button or work on an assembly line. The golden days of the Big 3 are long gone, and it's time people decide whether they would rather work or complain about what they think they "deserve" while they are obviously contributing nothing to this economy.

Now that's real rational thinking. No wonder this country is in the trouble it is...because there are many others who use that thought process.

"while they are obviously contributing nothing to this economy" and by your own admission neither are you. So don't complain that they don't.

Oh and by the way?! The European products you prefer to buy because they are of higher quality have you thought maybe that's because they have (gasp) national health care; Their's too are unionized, and the wage differential between the factory floor and the executives suite(s) are not nearly as severe as they are here?!

Brandon, great post! Seenitbefore, Stupid People, and GM Contract Worker...You guys seem to be the intelligent ones.

Some of you others are showing your lack of education and understanding of the topic, such as Jack77, Jenn, JonBob, Reality Check 2008, and Buying European.

Wow, that's a bad ratio. No wonder this state, and this country for that matter, is in the condition it's in.