As American Axle strike continues, some factories find new parts suppliers Save Email Print
Posted: 7:11 PM May 12, 2008
 Last Updated: 7:11 PM May 12, 2008
34 comments
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The strike continues for UAW members at five American Axle factories, despite negotiations over the weekend.

And now at least one of the factories American Axle supplies has moved on.

Workers at a General Motors plant near St. Louis will return to work Monday for the first time in about two months.

The plant has been shut down since March 6th due to a parts shortage caused by the strike at American Axle.

A GM spokesman says the automaker found another source for the parts.

Hundreds of workers at Nyloncraft and the H2 plant in Mishawaka were laid off temporarily due to the strike.
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Posted by: Tom Location: Leesburg on May 15, 2008 at 05:42 PM
And still no response to my question about how much money the union leaders make.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 15, 2008 at 05:39 PM
go back to work, it's that simple. unions have come part of the problem in this country. they want more money for wages and benefits.
Posted by: SALLY Location: SOUTH BEND on May 15, 2008 at 12:30 PM
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT UNIONS, OR AM AXLE; ALL I DO KNOW IS BECAUSE OF THIS STRIKE I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO MIGHT LOSE THEIR COMPANY, LAY OFF GOOD WORKERS AND WATCH YEARS OF HARD WORK GO FOR NAUGHT. GO BACK TO WORK. AND GET RID OF THAT RAT, ITS UGLY!

Please do not post in all caps. -WNDU.com
Posted by: Connie Location: Rochester on May 14, 2008 at 01:43 PM
What do you mean when you say H2 employees were laid off temporarily, my husband works there and they are still laid off unless you know something we don't.
Posted by: i on May 14, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Anon from South Bend must be personally acquainted with ALL of the posters here to be able to know that we are all posting from work. Wow. (Or, just maybe you don't know anyone else's schedule and should shut up until you do.)
Posted by: Anonymous on May 14, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Anon/ South Bend are you saying that you are a non-performing slug since you also had time to post a comment?
Posted by: J Location: Mishawaka on May 14, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Anon, It's okay that you are not educated on the subject and that because you may not be making substantial money you disagree. Not that I have to answer to you, but there is a thing called "breaks". My "trivial" job pays the bills and that is all I am worried about.
Posted by: Dave Location: Lansing on May 14, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Let us not forget that the only person adding "Value" to a product is the direct operator on the line. Our wage rate in the US requires us to remove waste and develop lean processes minimizing our direct labor headcount in order to stay competitive with the rest of the world. Companies that prefer to ship work to other countries for a lower wage rate are just plain lazy in my book. AA needs to get to a competitive wage rate with it's competitors, but there may be other ways than cutting wages. Some companies are requiring more than just assembly work of their operators. Higher skilled tasks such as equipment set up, programming and maintenance tasks can be performed by the operators in order to allow the company to reduce it's overall indirect head count (waste). These added skills can then be rewarded with a higher wage. I would like to see this trend continue across America making us not only the most productive, but also the highest skilled workforce in the world.
Posted by: Anon Location: South Bend on May 14, 2008 at 08:54 AM
This is your idea of "disagreeing"? My husband is not a "non-performing slug". However, since you have time to post comments on line rather do your job (however trivial it might be), perhaps you are.
Posted by: J Location: Mishawaka on May 14, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Not all unions are as you preceive. Many of the trade unions have to go through extensive schooling. They work very hard to get where they are and the so called "slugs" do not get protected. You have to do your job to get paid. The governement might control some of the working conditions, but you can work as many hours overtime in a day as long as you are getting overtime pay. So if your company says you are working a 16 hour day, if you want to keep that job you have no choice if they are paying you overtime. I called the labor board and found this out personally. So your eight hour day is not regulated by the government.
Posted by: Tom Location: Leesburg on May 14, 2008 at 08:30 AM
So how about an answer to my question about how much the money UNION BIG WIGS make. All you union people want to knock CEOs for getting paid big to run a company. But nobody seems to want to talk about these union guys getting rich by being nothing better than parasites. And they take their money directly from the workers. Seems a bit out of wack that it's ok for union leaders to get rich while doing nothing beneficial for the community, but your going to get upset because a guy working hard running HIS company makes more money than his employees.
Posted by: Agree to disagree on May 14, 2008 at 08:00 AM
While you might be manufacturing the product, you are not bringing the money in. The CEO develops strategic plans including marketing in order to sell the product. Again, without the CEO, there is no company. There are a number of people that would gladly manufacture the product for $14.00/hr. You people will really be S.O.L. when GM rescinds their 200m offer because this is not being settled in the time stipulated. If you all would have listened to your guidance counselors in high school, you would know that for the past thirty years they have said that manufacturing jobs are decreasing and the only way to plan for the future is through EDUCATION. EVERYONE is replaceable including a non-performing CEO. But the unions protect non-performing slugs. At least the media isn't posting pictures of grown men displaying large inflatable rats and driving cars with rats painted on them. Such professionalism.
Posted by: J Location: Mishawaka on May 13, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Todd,it may be he CEOs company, but the people making the product are bringing the money in. If he has nobody working for his company and making his product, than he has no company.
Posted by: J Location: Mishawaka on May 13, 2008 at 09:44 PM
I have an education and I have a job that pays decent and I am not in a Union, I just believe in them. So don't comment on my personal life since you do not have a clue.
Posted by: Bongo on May 13, 2008 at 09:24 PM
"A decent wage"? J- you aren't striking for a decent wage, you are striking for an over-blown wage that never should have climbed so high in the first place. If you want to make more than average, get an education and get a better than average job. Otherwise, forget about the McD's man, 'cause your job is on the road to Mexico. ....And, half a job is better than no job at all, dude. Or do you like Hamburger helper made with bologna?
Posted by: Todd Location: Mishawaka on May 13, 2008 at 09:04 PM
JameS, that is just union propaganda. The union is to blame and always has been. I have a non union job that pays me 25.00 per hour. I have full benefits and do not pay a union membership fee nor belong to one. You do not have a leg to stand on. Look at Detroit...it is nearly a ghost town. The union had it's day and it is long gone. It's the union companies that are going to Mexico. If I have an employee that has been with me for five years and does their job well, I will promote them over the 15 year person who slacks off any day. I do not believe in union seniority rules. You want to talk about the old days? Lets do..you get paid for how hard you work and not what your bulk standard contract says. You take pride in your job and are rewarded for it. You don't need a middle man to take money from you. It has nothing to do with rich and poor. Companies are in business to make money. DUH! Don't worry about what the CEO makes...it's their company.
Posted by: JAMES Location: NILES on May 13, 2008 at 07:44 PM
WHAT HAS HAPPEN TO THIS COUNTRY? NO COMPASION,WITH OUT THE BACK BONE OF THIS COUNTRY THE WORKING MAN, YOU , THE LITTLE WORKING (ANT) DON'T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON WITH OUT THE UNION.YOU WILL BE THE POOR FOR EVER.THE RICH WILL OWN YOU AND CONTROL YOU EVEN MORE THAN NOW, IM AFRAID WHEN YOU WAKE UP IT WILL BE TO LATE.JUST LOOK BACK 10YEARS AGO AT EVERYTHING YOU PAYED FOR.THE RICH ARE KEEPIN THE WORK FORCE LOW SO THEY CAN CONTROL YOU DUMMYS AND BLAME THE UNIONS,MOST COMPANYS ARE WOKING HALF THE WORK FORCE AND PUTTING OUT TWICE THE WORK AS 10 YEARS AGO. HAS THE COST OF YOUR APLIANCE GONE DOWN,HAS ANYTHING GONE DOWN,NO" NO" OH, YES" THE WHOLE NATIONS WAGES HAS GONE DOWN OR STAYED THE SAME FOR 20 YEARS. GEE 20 YEARS AGO IT USE TO TAKE 20 PEOPLE TO DO THIS JOB AT $12.00 PER HR NOW, BECAUSE OF TECHNOLAGY WE NEED 2 PEOPLE AT $18.00 THE MATH 20X12=240 PER HOUR 18.00X2=36 GEE IT SEEM TO ME THE RICH HAVE GAVE YOU THE BULL AGAIN AND BLAME THE UNION, WHO YOU GOING TO BLAME WHEN THEY ARE GONE "YOU"
Posted by: Tom Location: Leesburg on May 13, 2008 at 06:03 PM
J, you have the facts you just don't quite know how to interpret them. Yes 100 years ago we needed someone to bring about fair labor practices and the unions helped bring that about. But now everything is regulated by the gov. length of work day and week, minimum wage, overtime pay, etc., regardless if it's union or not. And your right, people in other countries do get paid next to nothing which is why companies in this country aren't going to keep paying American workers absurd wages. And is also why strikes like this one only give them more incentive to move to those countries. The point your missing is that the unions and their GREEDY demands are what is causing everything you're complaining about. You complain about the greed of the CEO's who are making money from running their companies. Any idea how much your UAW union bosses are bringing down per year? And all they're doing is leaching off of the companies AND THE WORKERS. Unions may have been needed ONCE, but their time is past!
Posted by: UAW overplayed its hand Location: South Bend on May 13, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Find new suppliers who will supply quality parts, and leave American Axle, and the past, in the dust bin of history. The UAW overplayed its hand, and now it will pay. Delphi workers accepted the offer, why won't you, American Axle workers? When the jobs are gone, what will the UAW defend? Nothing from nothing leaves nothing, except union senior leaders with new cars and fat pensions.
Posted by: J Location: Mishawaka on May 13, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Don't hate these workers for wanting to make a decent wage to support their family. Pretty soon all we will have is fast food and grocery stores to work for since everything that is manufactured is moving. Maybe you want to live on Big Macs all of your life, but I would like a better future for my family.
Posted by: worker Location: indiana on May 13, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Those American axle UAW spoiled brats might as well look for a new job. AA is history thanks to the lazy spoiled employees.
Posted by: Dave Location: Lansing on May 13, 2008 at 02:38 PM
American Axle beware, GM is already beginning to re-source your products. I saw this happen in the late 1990's when Delphi struck. GM was two weeks from resourcing their work which would have left the UAW defending an empty building. Let us all go back to our jobs so we can pull together and work hard to beat the competition with what we are best at in America - our innovative thinking and productivity.
Posted by: J Location: Mishawaka on May 13, 2008 at 01:59 PM
They are making a decent profit out of the country because those people get paid next to nothing and they can charge the American public a small fortune. How can we make such a low wage in the United States if they want to gouge us for everything. They want Americans to start taking low wage jobs so we can be like foreign countries and make nothing, so the rich can get richer. It is pure greed when it comes to how much profits they want to make. Just like it is pure greed when it comes to inflating the gas prices. There is someone out there getting rich and it sure isn't me. How much money does some of these people need to live. If you get rid of unions you might as well get ready to work for the same amount as they pay in Mexico and work long hours and in poor conditions. Once it starts it will just get worse. Workers that I know that are Union take pride in their work. That is more than I can say for a lot of the non-union people I know.
Posted by: Average Joe on May 13, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Axle IS hiring Mexicans-in Mexico. They hire Chinese in China. Worldwide, they are making a decent profit, but here in America they have to pay over-blown wages to unions and have been steadily losing money. The bosses here did get a bonus-because of the profit in the out of country locations that have been carrying the locals for so long, which the unions don't get because of the contract the UNIONS WANTED. Wage earners only get the bonus from their local profit- and there has been no local profit. Salary workers aren't union and benefit the entire company, so they benefit from the entire company. The strike is just the unions way of saying they shouldn't have to face the current financial reality along with the rest of us, so the rest of us won't feel sorry for them when their jobs ALL leave the country. We will blame them for it, though-and so will future generations.
Posted by: tom Location: indiana on May 13, 2008 at 11:24 AM
i still say the picture of grown men holding picket signs with a garbage can and a pile of wood in the background, pretty much says it all. dont ya think?
Posted by: Mike Location: South Bend on May 13, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Here's what is going to happen. There will be enough pressure from GM that AA will give into the Union or AA will see GM setting up other suppliers. The will capitulate to the Union giving them almost everything they want. GM can get caught back up with production levels. Once that happens, AA will start to close down facilities or open new plants that don't have a Union, if they can hold on that long. Those plants that are on strike, all those workers out picketing will be out of jobs. Look at Vincent Bach!! Look at some of the other big Union shops that were around here, gone because of the Union. Look at the other side of this, GM is hurting. They haven't been selling cars, they have inventory. The best thing for them right now is this strike. They get to lay people off, not pay any wages and sell what inventory they already have produced. All that and get to put the blame on AA. Think of the thousands of people they aren't paying hundreds of dollars a week to. ??????
Posted by: J Location: Mishawaka on May 13, 2008 at 10:49 AM
If it weren't for unions we wouldn't be where we are today with vacations and pay and getting weekends off. And yes why don't we send more jobs away; I think this is where the problem started by sending everything to China or Mexico. These companies have no problem sending these cheaply made products to American so we can buy these at a highly inflated prices with lead paint poisoning and who knows what else, for our families. How many people buy Nike shoes that are made for pennies, but spend $150.00 on. Americans are just taking less money and having to take lower paying jobs while prices are skyrocketing. The only ones making money are the CEOs of these companies. If we don't worry about ourselves no one else will. It is about time the American people wake up.
Posted by: Conley Location: Warsaw on May 13, 2008 at 10:18 AM
I'm glad some of the innocent people being hurt by the UAW greed are finding a little respite. I have a feeling in a few years when all those "unfair labor" signs are faded, the FORMER AAxle employees will all be poster children for an anti-union act passed in congress to protect America's employment stability.
Posted by: Lindy Location: South Bend on May 13, 2008 at 10:06 AM
No wonder you posted "anonymous". I wouldn't want the general public to know what a moron I was either.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 13, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Hooray for A Axle! Lets put those darned unions out of business!
Posted by: Patrick Location: SOuth Bend on May 13, 2008 at 05:47 AM
American Axle could cut the wages to six dollars an hour if the lay off the workforce and hire all Mexicans. This is not meant to be any kind of racial remark, just seems to be the direction the country is moving.
Posted by: Chris Location: SB on May 12, 2008 at 09:37 PM
People need to hold on to there jobs. Need to be thankful. There are alot of people out of work and now we have people striking? Unbelievable.
Posted by: Ed Location: Goshen on May 12, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Good, I hope more plants find other suppliers and get back to work. American Axle and it's employees are hurting a lot of innocent people who have nothing to do with this and need their paycheck to eat and pay the mortgage. Enough is enough already.
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