'We're fired up:' Axle workers hit board room and picket line

“Our competitors are going around us, and they are laughing at us”

For the first time since a walkout began at American Axle 59 days ago, Chairman and CEO Richard Dauch spoke publicly with his striking employees on Thursday, reiterating his charge that the company must cut ... via Detroit News

[Waiting GM Customer]

Whikle I understand the striking AAM's desire to stay within the level of financiial comfort they have come to enjoy, the fact of the matter is, the strike is trickling down to the many lives of the other workers that depend on the AAM parts to stay at work and financially solvent... Not to mention the hardship this is causing the customers that are waiting for delivery of GM Vehicles as they are trying to put their hard earned monies into the hands of everyone else so that the circle of financial solvency can go on... Go back to work and continue to work on the issues, staying home is not going to solve this... It appears to me that many thousand jobs are being directly affected by 3650...

[aamworker]

I don't understand why everyone says that 3650 people are at fault for the strike, instead of saying that it is all because of 1 person, Dick Dauch!!! We have given concessions and the man dosen't want to negotiate he wants to dictate and hold everyone hostage by threatening to close and move the work to Mexico. As far as I am concerned Dick needs to decide if he is going to negotiate or close down instead of holding everyone hostage.

[marcuss]

some of the wages paid there must be extremely high. gm in pittsburgh has pushed out the older workers and brought in younger that want a job. now they are making a decent profit.

[working person]

I understand what these people are fighting for they should be paid their worth. Everyone has to fight for something or fall for anything. These people are protecting the jobs of people that replace them in the future what if that future worker is your son or daughter. Fight on Fight on.

[Kenmore]

aamworker wrote:

I don't understand why everyone says that 3650 people are at fault for the strike, instead of saying that it is all because of 1 person, Dick Dauch!!! We have given concessions and the man dosen't want to negotiate he wants to dictate and hold everyone hostage by threatening to close and move the work to Mexico. As far as I am concerned Dick needs to decide if he is going to negotiate or close down instead of holding everyone hostage.

It looks like he is gong to close down: American Axle talks turn to Tonawanda plant closing
BUFFALO, N.Y.-(WIVB)- Reports from Detroit say that more than two months into the UAW's strike at American Axle & Manufacturing, the two sides have forged a potential plan for settlement. That plan could spell bad news for Western New York, even the closing of the forge plant in Tonawanda as well as one in Detroit.

According to a report in the Detroit Free Press the deal would set wages at $17 an hour for production workers,$14 an hour for non-production workers and $25.50 for skilled trade workers. That is roughly half of wages before the strike, which were $28 for production workers and $30 for skilled trades.

The report cites sources familiar with the talks and states that it is unclear what would be offered to workers in the event of a plant closing.

Negotiations between the UAW and American Axle are scheduled to continue today, and so details of a potential deal could change.

American Axle workers walked off the job on February 26 protesting proposals that severely slashed wages.

[CONCERNED CITIZEN]

WITH AN AMERICAN WIFE AND DAUGHTER, I BELIEVE THAT EVERY ONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MOTOR INDUSTRY NOT JUST ONE PERSON.THE WAGES AND BENEFITS ARE CRAZY.I HAVE TRAVELLED TO MANY PARTS OF THE GLOBE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN WORKERS COMPENSATED SO HIGHLY FOR DOING A JOB, EVEN SKILLED WORKERS DO NOT GET SUCH BENEFITS.
I BELIEVE THAT IF THE AMERICAN WORKERS WANT THERE INDUSTRY TO SURVIVE THEN THERE MUST BE SOME COMPROMISE.
I HOPE THAT THERE IS BECAUSE I WANT MY FAMILY TO STAY TOGETHER HERE IN MITCHIGAN AND NOT HAVE TO MOVE INTERSTATE OR AT WORST TO A NEW COUNTRY.