GM to pay up to $200M to help end American Axle strike

[Steelie]

Good Day,

O.K.- now this explains a lot! It sounds like that although many of these individuals will be taking a pay cut, GM is "buying" that paycut. So in otherwords... they may in their checks be getting a paycut, but due to GM buying the paycut from the workers they really are not losing much in the short to mid or even long term depending on how old they are and or close to retirement. Now this is making a whole lot more sense to me as to why the cut was taken.

AAM hf - Welcome to a global economy. At one point in time it was the U.S. that was "stealing" jobs from Europe as we were the ones who could do it better, faster, and cheaper. Now - it is countries like China, India and others who are taking this position. However, even these countries are seeing job losses to other nations! No really - it's true! China has on a more recent basis begun to lose jobs to countries like Viet Nam, the Phillipines and Thailand where they can make the products for even less than they can in China! And what happens as these burgeoning economies can no longer make products for as little as they can now? Where will the "manufacturing train" make its next stop? Africa. No - really, mark my words... Africa will become the next "cheap labor market" after wages in countries in the Far East rise to a level where it would be more profitable to manufacture elsewhere... and Africa is the logical next location. In fact - if one pays close enough attention to international and or foriegn business they can see the writing on the wall. And unfortunately it is not American companies that are really involved yet. The Chinese manufacturerers in particular have been making "exploratory" trips to African nations, for several years now, to look for possible manufacturing locations. It may very well start in a nation like South Africa and then move North along the coastal cities of Africa. Trust me... I lived and worked in S.E. Asia for nearly 7 years.(Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo) I was very fortunate to have done business in other countries such as China, the Phillipines, Indonesia, Malaysia Thailand and one or two little things in New Zealand. I have personally witnessed the migration of factories from China to other nations who can do it for less. So please trust that I know what I am talking about... hehe.

Steelie

[SoLiDaRiTy]

A nice 2nd job??? I highly doubt it honey! Plant work takes alot out of you especially in the summer when it's over 130 degrees in there! Most people would quit after a few hours for sure!

lori wrote:

<quoted text> I would work for $12.$12 pays a lot more bills than $8. That would be a nice 2nd job for my husband to pick up.

[SoLiDaRiTy]

Who Dis? Hotformer boy??? Any nicknames for yourself? I know you!!!

AAM hf wrote:

We are making money in my department at the forge and were still landing new contracts up to the time the srike started, all under the previous cost structure. It can still be done if you try. The problem is AAM doesn't want to try any more in this area-actually in this country. There is no way you can compete with third world countrys when it comes to labor costs, health care costs, enviromental laws (none in third world countrys),goverment taxes, etc... Its too bad because the workers were willing and expected to take pay cuts, just not a 66% cut. Nobody would agree to that.

[Unions - evolve or leave]

Union All The Way wrote:

<quoted text>
Try to remember GM suppliers that are"bailed out" were once GM and contractually obligated for proir "GM" employees. Have you heard the word "flow back' before? This is my fourth "GM"plant..from Fisher Guide, Inland Fisher Guide, Delphi, GM..still chasing my retirement. 32 yrs. and do not feel secure. Take the 45k and retire...I think not. Better to haave a job.

That's the attitude! Strike until the company loses so much money that it closes. You'll teach those money-hungry execs - and then you'll complain that people aren't buying American - tell me again, how many American Axles are they making right now??? You don't realize how many small businesses like mine are hurt by your greed. If you stopped and looked around, you would see that, but you're all too busy waving your picket signs to notice. Who's going to pick up the pieces for the real backbone of America when you guys break it?

[JIMMYK]

aamhf wrote:

<quoted text>Actually tonawanda forge makes toyota parts for thier cars and trucks.. once again the uniformed public bashes the aam workers

you are correct they do make Toyota parts. According to the reports they are still making those parts for toyota. If I am not mistaken it is the white collar workers who are producing the parts.

[JIMMYK]

my mistake it was an assembly location white collar was working at.

[Ex AAM Employee]

SoLiDaRiTy wrote:

Who Dis? Hotformer boy??? Any nicknames for yourself? I know you!!! <quoted text>

How bout you,You got a nickname ? elgon

[SoLiDaRiTy]

Ex AAM Employee wrote:

<quoted text>
How bout you,You got a nickname ? elgon

Maybe but I'm sure you don't know me?! Did you take a buyout from the forge?

[SoLiDaRiTy]

I've spoke with a few stupidvisors and I guess they have been "trying" to run some parts on the Hotformers and that is where Hubs and spindles are made for Toyolet. They've been complaining about how hard our job is and how sore they are. Oh well!!!

[AAM hf]

I heard they just ran some trials, no production. They still managed to break #1 and #4. Gerard was in there for a week working on them.

[SoLiDaRiTy]

A so called super SCAB from Colfor blew up #2 the other day I heard also!? What shift were you on AAM hf? I miss you! LOL

[AAM hf]

1st shift

[SoLiDaRiTy]

AAM hf wrote:

1st shift

Do you miss Roy?

[AAM hf]

I get to see him go thru the side gate in the morning...lucky me

[Union All The Way]

Unions - evolve or leave wrote:

<quoted text>
That's the attitude! Strike until the company loses so much money that it closes. You'll teach those money-hungry execs - and then you'll complain that people aren't buying American - tell me again, how many American Axles are they making right now??? You don't realize how many small businesses like mine are hurt by your greed. If you stopped and looked around, you would see that, but you're all too busy waving your picket signs to notice. Who's going to pick up the pieces for the real backbone of America when you guys break it?

HUH?

[SUPPORT THE UNIONS]

Unions - evolve or leave wrote:

<quoted text>
That's the attitude! Strike until the company loses so much money that it closes. You'll teach those money-hungry execs - and then you'll complain that people aren't buying American - tell me again, how many American Axles are they making right now??? You don't realize how many small businesses like mine are hurt by your greed. If you stopped and looked around, you would see that, but you're all too busy waving your picket signs to notice. Who's going to pick up the pieces for the real backbone of America when you guys break it?

You don't seem to be a very bright person!! Maybe that's why you have the low paying job that you do!

[SoLiDaRiTy]

AAM hf wrote:

I get to see him go thru the side gate in the morning...lucky me

Yeah me too. Saw his ugly mug this morn unfortunately!

[aam retiree]

lori wrote:

<quoted text> I would work for $12.$12 pays a lot more bills than $8. That would be a nice 2nd job for my husband to pick up.

Lori --it is a shame that all americans cannot get a living wage instead of having to work 2 jobs just to make ends meet. That is what the unions work for. Corporate profits come first and fair compensation to the people who do the tough labor to make the products they sell at a good profit, not so important.

[joe]

Big mistake GM made by bailing out American Axle. The workers at other suppliers now have their hands out.

[Seenitbefore]

Steelie wrote:

Good Day,
O.K.- now this explains a lot! It sounds like that although many of these individuals will be taking a pay cut, GM is "buying" that paycut. So in otherwords... they may in their checks be getting a paycut, but due to GM buying the paycut from the workers they really are not losing much in the short to mid or even long term depending on how old they are and or close to retirement. Now this is making a whole lot more sense to me as to why the cut was taken.
AAM hf - Welcome to a global economy. At one point in time it was the U.S. that was "stealing" jobs from Europe as we were the ones who could do it better, faster, and cheaper. Now - it is countries like China, India and others who are taking this position. However, even these countries are seeing job losses to other nations! No really - it's true! China has on a more recent basis begun to lose jobs to countries like Viet Nam, the Phillipines and Thailand where they can make the products for even less than they can in China! And what happens as these burgeoning economies can no longer make products for as little as they can now? Where will the "manufacturing train" make its next stop? Africa. No - really, mark my words... Africa will become the next "cheap labor market" after wages in countries in the Far East rise to a level where it would be more profitable to manufacture elsewhere... and Africa is the logical next location. In fact - if one pays close enough attention to international and or foriegn business they can see the writing on the wall. And unfortunately it is not American companies that are really involved yet. The Chinese manufacturerers in particular have been making "exploratory" trips to African nations, for several years now, to look for possible manufacturing locations. It may very well start in a nation like South Africa and then move North along the coastal cities of Africa. Trust me... I lived and worked in S.E. Asia for nearly 7 years.(Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo) I was very fortunate to have done business in other countries such as China, the Phillipines, Indonesia, Malaysia Thailand and one or two little things in New Zealand. I have personally witnessed the migration of factories from China to other nations who can do it for less. So please trust that I know what I am talking about... hehe.
Steelie

To me Steelie it not nearly as much of who doesn't know what their talking about as it is do we just sit back and let it all happen...take a lasse fare attitude.

Welcome to the global economy? Not so much. As you have referred to this is all coming about and has been happening by the corporations unfettered quest for profit. Lets not get into the "need" for profit again at this time. So do we all just sit back and lose jobs and lively hoods because "that's the way it is"? Not in my book. I have done and will continue to not buy products from companies that have "deserted" this country. Is that difficult? Yes it is. I may not b able to avoid every product that is built out of country but that doesn't mean I can't buy used at every possible opportunity. I refuse to buy new products from any of these companies. Stop buying their new products and they lose.

Polio was the way it was. Should we not have done anything about it? Cancer is the way it is. Should we not do anything about it? Someone breaking into your home to steal or do harm to your family is the way it is. Should you not do anything about it? THAT'S WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO...what are we going to do about it. Let people starve to death until we have finally run out of third world developing countries for "cheap" labor?

Like I said before we are the only country that takes so few steps to protect our own economy. That's what tariffs are for. To balance out trade. Fair trade. Not free trade.

Anyone that thinks we can compete with these third world countries for labor and survive our economy is seriously delusional.