written by bendygirl
at Tuesday, November 17, 2009
I'm planning a trip for this April for my parents and for my kid who is graduating from High School. Ugh, I'm so old!!
So, I open my e-mail and what do I see?
American Airlines
Winter Flight Deals!
Book now and save on travel into 2010! Great destinations like Chicago, Las Vegas, New Orleans and more are on sale with fares starting as low as $58* each way.
Hurry, purchase your tickets by November 23, 2009, for travel December 2, 2009, through March 10, 2010.
Most excellent except for one small tiny little itty bitty thing...
United Airlines flight attendant members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA) will join members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) at American Airlines on the picket line at airports around the country tomorrow. While American Flight Attendants conduct a mock strike and walk the picket line, United.
Flight Attendants will join them in solidarity for a fair Contract and coordinated efforts to lift the standard for Flight Attendants across the industry.
Now, American Airlines, did you think you were going to get that one past me? Tease me with a great looking deal, only to piss on the workers who will be protecting my ass in the sky? Well, American Airlines, I think not!
So, get to the table and hammer out a fair deal. Psst, and a fair deal doesn't look like the kind of crap the the likes of Dick E. Dauch pulled when he sank American Axle into a hole, took millions from the company in pay days, asked workers for 60% pay cuts and left them out their on the picket lines for 11 weeks. Fairpay for CEO's should be measured based on what the lowest paid workers under you make.
So, for anyone taking a flight tomorrow on American, perhaps, you can reconsider. And thanks for the fabulous deals American, but no thanks. I don't live in Wal-Merica, I live in the United States of America. So, take that deal... what, I have to paint you a picture?
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written by bendygirl
at Thursday, February 19, 2009
by shirah crossposted with permission from unbossed
The one bright spot within the economic gloom that surrounds so many of us was the Republic Window and Door worker sit in. By sitting in they stood up for their rights. By sitting in they got our attention and sent a lesson of what is possible by engaging in concerted acts of mutual aid and support.
UE Local 1110 announced today that the leading company in the green window business -- Serious Materials, based in Sunnyvale, California -- is in the final stages of working out an agreement to purchase the assets of Republic Windows and Doors. Members of UE Local 1110 staged a sit-in last month to win severance, health benefits and earned vacation pay, after the plant's previous owner shut down with only three days' notice to workers.
Though some details still need to be finalized, the union is told that the parties are very close to inking a deal. "We are all hopeful about the possibility of Serious reopening our plant. This would be a very happy ending to our struggle," said former Republic worker and Local 1110 Vice President Melvin Maclin.
Serious Materials is a leading manufacturer of energy saving green building products. Their stated mission is to reduce greenhouse gases by one billion tons annually. "These are the green-collar jobs we need for the future of our community," said Armando Robles, former Republic maintenance worker and president of Local 1110. Serious Materials and the union believe there is market in the Midwest for the energy efficient, super-insulating windows and commercial glass that Serious makes.
Serious has said that it hopes, after a ramp-up period, to eventually hire all of the former Republic workforce. For that to happen, however, the bankruptcy court must act quickly. The local fears that if the court delays, the business will evaporate and it will be difficult to re-hire anyone. "We hope that the creditors, trustee and judge will allow Serious to purchase the assets soon, so I and my co-workers can start making windows again," said Robles.
That was January 14. They continue to need support. You can show solidarity by keeping this story alive and even by donating to the cause through the Windows of Opportunity fund.
The UAW worker speaking is from American Axle and the staffers at the table have never heard of American Axle. NEVER HEARD OF IT. Why is that important? An 11 week strike this past winter.
How can we expect the Republican Senators to be able to pull their heads out of their asses if their staffers can't even keep up on an 11 week strike that SHUT DOWN GM plants all over the country, in Mexico and also hit Canadian autoworkers? Are these rely the people who should be making policy about how and if money should be loaned to manufacturing in this country?
Idiots and asshats. Because of them, there's no money out there in the form of a LOAN for the auto industry!!
I've been pretty impressed lately with how the IAM has been communicating. In the post right before this, you'll see a Boeing striker using sign language, something I've never seen on a Union video. There there's also how IAM communicates on their contract site and there's also their use of Youtube, like this IAM produced video.
IAM is doing a much better job getting the word out and organizing strikers than the UAW did at American Axle during their 11 week strike. It's week 8 now and there is a constant update from IAM. CONSTANT updating, just look at their site. They're using their site the way a union should, as a communication tool.
Union negotiators continued meeting with the federal mediators and Company negotiators throughout Saturday and into the evening with additional talks scheduled for Sunday. As previously reported, no details of the talks will be available until this round of talks have concluded.
I've been talking to the Merkley Campaign about the Boeing strike and what he's done or if he's met with the strikers. They had noted that they had met with the strikers but didn't take video or pictures of the event, because it was really meant for the strikers, those who most needed to be heard.
Yesterday, I asked on a thread over at DKos if Merkley had any pictures yet of his meetings with strikers, and he had, but outside of the picture they posted in the thread was this comment that brought tears to my eyes.
With the Boeing strike in it's 7th week, I only have $150 a week strike pay coming in but I've still sent Jeff Merkley a donation since the strike started. I was quite impressed after talking with Jeff during Netroots in Austin. Merkley is at the top of my list of must have gains for the Senate.
"...we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight." - Barack Obama
by Lefty Coaster
$150 in strike funds per week after 7 weeks on strike and Lefty still donates $64.60? Damn, that says a lot to me about Merkley.
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written by bendygirl
at Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Sometimes, I think we just need a reminder that workers are on the front lines. Sometimes, we really just need to remember that.
Too often, we all get caught up in our own lives, our own struggles, even our own work toward a Democratic super-majority and White House. But there are people in this country really struggling. For Boeing workers, this all amounts to a slap in their collective face; the face of a worker who's sacrificed for Boeing to make it profitable. Profitable to the tune of $58 Billion annually.
Instead, Boeing's effort misfired badly. The machinists rejected the company's offer by 86%. Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Alan R. Mulally, who's running the show while new Boeing CEO W. James McNerney Jr. learns the ropes, denies that the company attempted to divide the union membership. Still, what's puzzling is why he hasn't yet found a face-saving way to end the standoff. A close reading of management's offer suggests that it could meet the IAM's key pension demands for just $90 million more over the three-year life of a new labor contract. Since that comes to less than 1% of the nearly $4 billion the company will spend on the IAM's total wage-and-benefit expense over that period, it's difficult to see what Boeing hopes to gain by a lengthy showdown. That's particularly true in light of analysts' estimates that Boeing will rack up more than $90 million in costs each month that the walkout drags on.
snip
Underlying the current standoff are the poor relations Boeing has long had with the IAM. That became clear in last-minute talks between Calhoun and Blondin just before the strike began. The two were deadlocked over yet another relatively minor issue, involving worker training. Blondin recalls asking: "I just don't understand why you always fight us." Blondin says Calhoun replied: "You just don't get it. We represent Corporate America. You represent labor. We are always going to be adversaries." Boeing says Blondin's account was taken out of context.
Whatever the exact figures, the sums causing the impasse are essentially rounding errors for a company that hauls in $54 billion in annual revenues. With any savings to Boeing soon to be eaten up in the strike's first month, what's really driving Boeing remains a mystery.
In one respect, Boeing's ahead of the curve...they posted a power point to youtube, threatening workers with their "Best and Final" offer, the offer alluded to by BusinessWeek . Um, Boeing, you can do oh so much better than the offer you made and you know it. There's $54 billion in annual revenues saying you can do oh so much better than this:
Currently, talks have stalled and it's all about Boeing still, from Reuters:
But late on Monday, Boeing said in a statement that the latest talks were adjourned without an agreement and that no new talks were currently scheduled.
The union wants to bid on work and parts that have been outsourced. If these workers can compete, then why not? Boeing doesn't want to even open it up; it's a no sell for Boeing and in the end, what Boeing wants (more outsourcing) will end up costing jobs to the men and women of IAM.
They've been on strike now for 5 weeks. September 6th, 2008 is a long time to go without regular pay checks. Strike pay is not nearly enough to get these families by, pay for food or pay for mortgages.
Come on Boeing, do right by these workers; they've done right by you.
Here's hoping that we take a minute and look beyond all the current races going on right now. There really are real bread and butter issues to solve. If you have a minute, let Boeing know how you feel by DONATING to the strike fund:
Strike Needs There are many items we use everyday during a strike. Some items are donated and others are purchased.
We are grateful to every individual, company and organization who has donated items.
If you have any strike related items you would like to donate, please bring them by the hall nearest you.
Wood -- Clean burnable wood is always welcomed. Please only donate burnable wood. No painted or treated wood. Pallets -- Not used for burning, they can be used for temporary shelter on the picket lines should the weather turn bad. Bread -- We make a lot of sandwiches running a 24/7 operation. Muffins/Doughnuts -- A nice morning snack Eggs -- Egg salad sandwiches are the picketers delicacy. Ok, they're inexpensive and easy to make. Fresh Vegetables -- Make great soups Coffee -- Always a pleasure
We will pretty much take any donations of food items. If we cannot use them in a timely fashion, we will donate to our members to take home.
written by bendygirl
at Thursday, October 02, 2008
Boeing executives say a prolonged strike could wound the company, which is behind schedule on the fuel-saving Dreamliner 787 and has seen high demand ramp up production by 50 percent this year.
I’m all shits and giggles for Boeing. I know in my heart that they think about their workforce the same as the likes of Kongsberg Automotive and American Axle, not a squat.
The virally anti-union JetBlue’s CEO took a 50% pay cut from August to the end of the year and Airtran’s Bob Fornaro opted for a 15% pay cut. Clearly, these are nothing in comparison to the massive pay cuts taken at Continental by CEO Lawrence Kellner and President Jeff Smisek.
With the recent talk of a bailout of Wall Street and the massive salaries for CEO’s, actions like that of Kellner and Smisek are even more out of the ordinary, they are down right singular. That’s one of the reasons I wonder about the current actions of Boeing and their desire to only compensate workers when what they want is to help make Boeing a better company, more profitable and producing a better product. Boeing has a work force dedicated to the success of Boeing.
The union is using the strike to attack the company's relentless outsourcing. In the 2002 contract Boeing won the ability to use non-union suppliers for more parts. The union wants a six-month window where it could bid on work before it is outsourced.
If the Machinists can come up with a proposal and show that we can do it cheaper, better, that quality work is there, we should be able to keep that work in-house," said Local 751A steward Steve Parsley.
Boeing hasn't shown much interest in letting the union make its case. The company complained the union was trying to tell it how to run the business, and instead touted its proposed 11 percent wage boost over three years. Boeing negotiator Doug Kight reportedly called his proposal "the best contract offer in America this year."
Wage increases are great, especially for the worker coming in making $11 an hour, however, it means nothing if you have to pay higher prices for prescriptions and insurance and oh yeah, this one:
Boeing's proposal, however, would… take away the family's right to a pension if a worker dies.
With Boeing hovering at 5 to 7% labor costs per plane produced and…
Aircraft maker Boeing has been groaning under a $275 million backlog of orders for new airplanes that waste less fuel. The company booked a $4.1 billion profit last year, and its principal union, the Machinists (IAM), says Boeing's profits have soared by 828 percent in recent years.
When your workers make you profitable, why is it they can’t share in the success? When things are bad, they take concessions to keep the company afloat, but when things improve and they have made it possible for the company to bring in $4.1 BILLION in profits in 1 year, then then contract that’s offered, the one that’s put forward should take into consideration the sacrifices made to bring the company to this position. I know American Axle and Kongsberg Automotive don’t understand this concept, but if Continental’s CEO and President can get it and sacrifice themselves, then why can’t Boeing figure this out?
Boeing, let me break it down for you:
When you invest in your people, they’ll invest in you. When you’re good to your people, they’re good to you. When YOU sacrifice for your people, they’ll sacrifice for you. But when you screw them with reduced benefits and offer nominal pay increases in the face of massive profits and current substantial backorders, well, don’t expect anything less than a strike, it’s really the only option left on the table for your workers.
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"We are the ones who move the goods that this country needs to keep working. If we stop because we haven't got the money to buy fuel then the country will stop," Julio Villascusa, president of the transport association Fenadismer, told Cadena SER radio.
Fenadismer said more than 90,000 drivers have been called to take part in the strike.
It's not just the truckers on strike (and they're blocking roads, as they should, it's a strike), but Fisherman are also protesting:
A strike by fishermen across Spain also protesting fuel costs has entered a second week. News reports said smaller boats that fish closer to the coast had now joined the protest, which began May 30.
The stoppages are part of Europe-wide protests against rising prices.
Fuel costs are hitting India hard, Europe, the US, who isn't being hit by this? And I have to sit back an ask, why haven't we come up with renewable technologies that don't pollute the environment before now? If we had, maybe this mess could have been avoided.
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American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. boosted its wage offer and increased the payments it will give workers to take a wage cut as part of a tentative agreement that could settle an 11-week strike by the United Auto Workers union, a person briefed on the deal said Saturday.
Okay, so I'm happy that there is movement now on this, it's cool, really cool. I'm especially elated that this movement comes just DAYS after OBAMA spoke about this.
I heard about this through an e-mail from one of the striker's families:
So, Obama has finally recognized the strife of the American Axle worker. It wasn't much but he did mention us in his speech today at Macomb Community College. I feel that he should have visited our picket lines today instead of a Chrysler plant in Sterling Heights. But as I have learned; our struggle isn't much of anything to others just us....for now. Until it affects the rest of us one day soon. I won't complain much - we received more attention with his comment then I thought we ever would.
The American Axle comments start at 1:09 and the applause at 1:17 (it's a solidarity thing). I think you should also read some of the text, here are my favorite pieces from the speech:
Not too far from here, at American Axle, UAW members have gone on strike to fight for good wages, and good benefits, and a decent standard of living. These are things that all hardworking families should expect and that UAW members deserve, and we stand in solidarity with the folks on the picket lines, and the families impacted by this strike.
Their struggle is part of a larger struggle that's being waged not just in Michigan, but all across the country. It's a struggle to ensure that we have good manufacturing jobs so American workers can raise a family, have health care when they need it, put their children through college, and retire with dignity and security. They're common hopes, modest dreams, but they're slipping out of reach for too many families.
It's a small mention, however, it's a big time mention about the entire industry and how too many decision are made in boardrooms that effect workers without workers even being involved. Way to go Barack, way to go!
I won't stand here and tell you that we'll be able to stop every job from going overseas or bring every job back. But I will tell you that we can end the Bush-McCain policy of giving tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas, and we can start giving those tax breaks to companies that create good-paying jobs right here in America. Instead of opposing job training similar to what's being offered at M-Tech, like John McCain has, we can make sure every American has the skills to compete in the global economy. We don't have to stand idly by while foreign competitors outpace us in making the cars of the future. I'm running for President to make sure that the cars of the future are made where they've always been made - right here in Michigan. Because the fight for American manufacturing is the fight for America's future - and I believe that's a fight this country will win.
Personally, it's a fight we must win.
So, thank you Senator Obama for making a more important and relevant statement about the strike and the issues facing American manufacturing.
As for American Axle's strike, here's what AP is saying now:
The deal is similar to what the UAW agreed to with auto parts maker Delphi Corp. last year, the person said. In that deal, Delphi agreed to pay workers "buy downs" of $105,000 over three years.
Noncore workers, which are those that aren't involved in actual manufacturing, would be paid $14.55 per hour, the person said, while skilled trades workers would get $26 per hour.
American Axle confirmed Friday night that both sides had agreed on a deal, but details weren't released. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement Friday night that the American Axle bargaining committee voted to recommend the agreement to members, who would get details starting Sunday.
The agreement, which still must be voted on by about 3,600 workers at five plants in New York and Michigan, includes the closure of American Axle's Detroit and Tonawanda, N.Y., forge operations. It also has a separate but lower pay scale for American Axle's operations in Three Rivers, Mich., the person said.
Just a look at the kind of people this will effect in Tonawanda:
My bigger issue with this agreement is that it might not actually be ratified by the membership. They are giving up a great deal to keep these jobs. So, is it worth the 11.5 weeks they've been out to get very little more than what was originally offered by Dick Dauch, a man who took more than $10 million last year from American Axle in compensation and bonuses. Again, from AP:
Strike captain Duane Thompson said ratification will depend on whether workers believe they can get a better offer. He thinks a better deal than what's been reported can be negotiated.
"There's a bunch of us who don't like it because we feel we deserve more, or just leave what we have alone. But don't take away from us," said Thompson, a Hamtramck resident.
Thompson also said he worries about the impact this contract could have on future contracts for all UAW workers.
"If we pass it, it will make people look funny at us: 'Did you do everything in your power to win, or did you just give up the fight?'" Thompson said.
Skilled trades worker Doug Sherrill, of Macomb County's Macomb Township, said Saturday that union workers are skeptical.
"We're happy we got a tentative agreement, but is it going to pass? The way people feel around here is it's going to be a tough sell," Sherrill said.
UAW workers were picketing Saturday, and plan to continue until an agreement is ratified, but they are feeling the pinch of living on strike pay for nearly 12 weeks, non-production worker Leo McGucki said.
"There's a lot of people hurting," McGucki said, a Warren resident who has worked for American Axle for nearly 13 years.
Still, Thompson said the workers know what's at stake.
"This is our livelihood we're talking about. We can't take that lightly," he said.
I wonder how many of us could stand by and just let it happen. I don't think I could. I just don't know how much more the strikers can take. I don't know how much more the rest of us can, either.
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Unions members previously had said the company wanted to negotiate the closure of American Axle's Detroit and Tonawanda, New York, forge operations. Gettelfinger confirmed Saturday that those closings had been agreed upon.
I hope the GM offer is moving this along. I'm sure everyone wants to be back to work.
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General Motors said Thursday that it had agreed to give as much as $200 million to a parts supplier, American Axle and Manufacturing, to help settle a 10-week strike that has reduced or halted production at 32 G.M. factories.
About Freaking time!! Way to step up GM, way to freaking step up!! More from the New York Times
G.M. said in its filing that the deal to pay American Axle was reached recently but did not say when. A spokeswoman for American Axle, Renee Rogers, said, “This is sort of a breaking news situation. It happened very quickly.” Ms. Rogers said a deal to end the strike was not imminent but that “multiple” issues had been resolved.
Of G.M.’s cash infusion, she said, “It makes us hopeful that the parties can quickly reach an agreement to bring an end to the terribly costly and disruptive strike.”
Gee, GM, it's about time you realized how costly this strike has been. For the workers, it's been even worse as Food Pantries have run dry all over, take the report from the Toledo Blade:
Linda Crouch-Roepken, associate executive director of The Foodbank, said the strike has raised demand and lowered donations. She said the hardest hit food pantries have been AFL-CIO satellite sites, including one spot where 300 people picked up food a recent day.
"We have been able to address the need, but it has been a strain on the entire network," Crouch-Roepken said.
So, to sum this up, way to finally step up PUBLICLY GM, now Dick Dauch, stop being a freaking dickhead and let your workers return to work based on a FAIR CONTRACT. All workers should be able to put food on their tables and also into the pantries, too.
Lockhart says all the talk about pay cuts and buyouts is upsetting, but he has to prepare for the inevitable. He doesn't want a pay cut, but he also wants to go back to work.
"I guess that's what it's going to be," he said. "I refuse to stay mad and make being out here even worse."
And right now, with this GM proposal, I finally have my fingers crossed and I'm holding my breath that this might really be near the end of this strike. It's still not good enough, I'm sure it isn't good enough for Lockhart or Jerd0708 or any of the other American Axle workers out on the lines right now, but it's movement on the strike. And that to me, it's a good sign.
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Rick Tincher knew there was a problem when the AFL-CIO's main food pantry at 184 Salem Ave. ran out of food.
"It was chaotic," recalled Tincher, AFL-CIO labor liaison to the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area. "It was a fire sale. It was the alarm bell going off."
To gauge the local impact the United Auto Workers strike against American Axle & Manufacturing, simply visit one of the satellite food pantries the AFL-CIO opened in the strike's wake. There's one at 313 S. Jefferson St. in downtown Dayton and another at 1543 Alwildy Ave., opened with the help of the local United Way.
At either location, hundreds of families weathering temporary lay-offs as a result of the strike get help stretching their food dollars. Volunteers load cardboard boxes with jars of peanut butter, sacks of potatoes, cans of soup, stew or pork and beans.
Tincher points to the numbers: In February, the AFL-CIO pantry served 252 family members, packing up 3,780 meals.
The UAW strike against American Axle began Feb. 26 and radiated outward. The General Motors SUV plant in Moraine halted production March 3.
So the March numbers jumped, with the union pantry serving 687 families 10,305 meals.
From April 1-25, 2,686 families drew from the pantry, taking 40,290 meals.
Compared to March and April 2007, the numbers of meals served has jumped 2,389 percent.
Tincher — who emphasizes that he supports the UAW's strike — estimates the pantries have six more weeks of food.
"I've got to prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Tincher said.
When, Dick, when will you do the right thing for your company and the workers who made it profitable in the first place?
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Yesterday, families and strikers mounted a rally in Detroit to highlight American Axle's desire to screw their workers while continuing to reap huge profits and dishing out million dollar bonuses to CEO and other executives.
And despite more than 37,000 workers off their jobs, 3650 American Axle Workers on strike, more than 30 plants shut AND 3 different countries affected, we still have nothing From Obama, Clinton and Mr. No-Right-To-Work-tax-your-benefits-anti-EFCA-McSame.
Not a F U C K I N G Word. Not one!
So, the union and other allies, families and friends, put together a rally. And then things went horribly bad.
So, I got this e-mail this morning (really early) and I needed to share and vent at the same time.
I went to another American Axle rally for Rich today. It was a great success through most of it. I was astounded and appauled by this site right before us. This woman, an AAM employee, asked to "jay walk" along with other women. As she did a Detroit officer put her in a "chokehold" and litterally dragged her backwards to his cop car and arrested her. I was completely amazed. This woman is an older lady - I am told she is 65 with a heart condition - and she didn't do ANYTHING!
Now, ya all know me. I am not one to keep quiet and I told Officer McGain this (the officer who did this to her). I am writing papers, tv stations and any parties connected with the Detroit Police force.
But don't take my word for it, take a look at the pictures
This isn't the time of Pinkertons killing strikers and locked out workers.
sure, it was a real threatening group. At least, if US media won't cover it, Pan African News Wire does:
This is the 2nd incident with Detroit Police; police represented by a union as well. The first incident happened earlier in the strike.
Traditional media barely works. We have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people. Our neighbors, friends, countrymen.
This isn't what the strikers at American Axle want, but it is what happens when management and owners screw workers like they are trying to do at American Axle. From WSBT in South Bend Indiana:
Explorer Van in Warsaw laid off approximately 175 workers.
Warsaw Mayor Ernest Wiggins told WSBT News Monday evening the layoffs are probably temporary due to the company running out of parts. He says Explorer Van employs more than 200 people.
Tuesday, the owner of the company confirmed the layoffs are tied to the strike at American Axle.
General Motors had to close two more plants Monday because of the strike.
Well, looks like GM may finally enter the Fray on American Axle and Dick Dauch’s resolve not to negotiate, from CBS channel 3 News in Michigan:
(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It looks like striking American Axle workers will stay on those picket lines a little longer.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger says the company didn't do much negotiating with the union over the weekend.
He says he's not sure when they'll actually reach an agreement.
I think they might have gotten this information from the AP or perhaps the Detroit News. There’s also the Ft Wayne Paper…
Gettelfinger told reporters before speaking to a Detroit-area Democratic Party dinner that American Axle isn't negotiating much.
>snip<
"I would hope we could resolve Axle, but we cannot negotiate an agreement with ourselves," he said before a speech to Livingston County Democrats. "It seems like it's all give on our side."
>snip<
Gettelfinger said in his speech that American Axle Chairman and CEO Richard Dauch made $258 million from 1997 through 2007 but wants workers to work for nothing. "They use the word competitive until they wear it out, but are they competitive with their own salaries?" he asked.
What is interesting in all of this is that GM still isn’t putting public pressure on Dauch to bargain in good faith, of course, I do hope they are putting the screws to him behind closed doors, but that’s probably a pipe dream . With more than 30 GM factories affected by the strike, I have to wonder when they will. I suppose Fort Wayne Indiana is also thinking about it.
The unemployment rate for the Fort Wayne metropolitan area shot up to 6.4 percent in March, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 4.9 percent rate from March 2007, a state unemployment report showed Friday.
>snip<
The strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. was cited as one of the factors. The strike, which began in late February, has caused several shutdowns and layoffs in the auto manufacturing industry.
“Unfortunately, the effects of the American Axle strike are being felt here and have had an impact on our unemployment numbers,” Teresa Voors, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, said in the report.
American Axle is a key supplier to General Motors Corp., which has a truck assembly plant in southwest Allen County. Production at the plant was shut down between Feb. 29 and April 7 because of a lack of parts, affecting 2,500 hourly workers. Currently, the Allen County plant is back to normal production on a temporary basis.
With the American Axle strike now affecting employment rates in other states, over 30 GM plants, and the workers at American Axle as well, perhaps it’s finally time for the candidates to address this issue and take a stab at understanding what it really means to HAVE to WALK A PICKET LINE and how important this strike is for US workers. Of course, it's also time for GM to get its head out of the sand and publicly address Dauch and his cronies on this. Of course, it's been time for the candidates and GM to answer this call. Wonder when they finally will.
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Lansing - United Auto Workers walked off the job at General Motors Corp.'s Delta Township plant when a 10 a.m. deadline passed with no deal on a local contract.
The walkout started at about 10:15 a.m. with dozens of vehicles streaming out of plant gates. Some workers picketed the plant with signs as passing motorists signaled support.
UAW officials have not specified the local contract issues in dispute. In addition to the overarching UAW contract reached last fall with Detroit's Big Three automakers, most UAW locals are still negotiating plant-level deals.
Doug Rademacher, president of UAW Local 602, which represents workers at the Lansing plant, said talks have broken off and that he didn't know when they will resume.
He dismissed speculation that the strike is part of a UAW strategy to draw GM into the lengthy labor dispute with partsmaker American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. The UAW walked off the job at American Axle plans Feb. 26.
Rademacher said workers at the Delta plant have been working under a contract put in place in 1999 when GM built the factory. The contract, he said, was intended to give GM flexibility to get the factory running, but was never supposed to be a long-term labor agreement. The UAW planned to get a plant-level contract in place for Delta after last fall's national negotiations, he said.
This workforce deserves respect," he said. "We changed our culture to work with the company. We need a local agreement."
The Delta plant is critical for GM because it builds the automaker's popular crossovers, the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave.
The overall article is interesting in that it mentions the American Axle strike, but doesn't really address why that's important here. There's simply only a mention.
So, let's take a look at it. What GM cars have been affected by the 52 day American Axle strike. So far, we're looking at:
And these are only the models named. Most are listed as "GM light trucks", "Cadillac" vehicles as well as "SUV". Pretty generic names that really are more likely on the lines of Escalade, Vibe, Cadillac, Saturn VUE and many others.
So, what exactly does this all mean to American Axle. Well, it means the loss of GM work.
The five week-old strike at American Axle is finally starting to wear on GM, and the General has decided to move a small but crucial parts contract over to rival supplier Dana to help get its truck plants moving again. The 30,000-unit prop shaft contract for light pickups is considered a small deal, but the fact that GM is beginning to move on shows that the strike, which began on February 26, is beginning to take its toll on the giant automaker. The move is going to anger the striking workers, but it will also likely help get American Axle management back at the bargaining table.
It did bring Dick Dauch and his son Dick Dauch, back to the table in early April, but it’s now day 52 of the strike and more plants are being idled as GM runs out of parts for some of their best selling brands.
But what about the workers in Delta Township who now have no local contract in place for their plant? Well, it looks as if it's a waiting game. I suppose it is also a waiting game for even more workers:
A UAW local at a GM transmission plant in Warren, Mich., has a strike deadline set for Friday morning. And a union local at a GM stamping plant near Grand Rapids, Mich., issued a warning to the auto maker that it may strike if progress isn't made on its local agreement.
I wonder if the steelworkers in Van Wert are doing any better in their negotiations from their lock out than American Axle workers are doing in their strike. Somehow, the greed of these corporate goons makes me think, it's just not the case. Read More...
I get e-mails from time to time from American Axle families and workers. Today, I got one from a spouse and thought it needed to be shared.
DICK DAUCH AND THE SHAREHOLDERS OF AMERICAN AXLE ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!!
I am sick and tired of the CRAP that Dick Dauch and American Axle is trying to dish to its employees and their families.
I can’t believe that this man has the nerve to sit there and offer insulting wages with insulting “buy downs” and “buy outs”. He should be ashamed of what he is putting our 3600+ families through. Let’s not forget the other hundreds of thousands families that are being affected by this strike too. Not only in our country; but world wide.
He seems to think that his “buy downs” and “buy outs” will be “cushy and comfy” for his employees. These figures must be enough to replace the 14 years my husband has in at your company, the fact that we have to completely start over somewhere else – without the same pay – and allow our families to keep our houses. In my opinion, this man will never offer enough for the damage that has already been done and the wrath we are about to endure.
He smugly accepts a huge salary and bonuses while he threatens to close our plants because we aren’t making a profit large enough. However, he fails to announce to the world that these 5 plants fund the off shore plants and the off shore plants rake in the profits. How do you expect my husband and his co-workers to produce enough to finance all of these operations? Meanwhile, he is taking machines out of my husband’s plant and sending them to non-union plants. It’s a disgrace! AMERICAN Axle …yeah, real American.
I resent the fact that he is turning our lives upside down. I resent the fact we have to start over. I resent the fact we may have to TRY and sell our home and my kids may have to leave their school and the friends they know. Above all, I resent the fact that this is all because of 1 company’s greed!
I hope the whole Dauch family and members of the board can sleep well at night with their million dollar salaries; knowing their jobs and salaries are safe. While we are worrying and wondering how we are going to repair this financial and emotional mess that he has thrown us into. We can only hope that he acquires a conscience before it’s too late!
American Axle and the UAW are back to talking, 7 weeks after the strike began, and according to the AP, it might mean an end is finally in sight:
The United Auto Workers has given American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. a proposal dealing with economic issues, a local union official said Wednesday as formal negotiations aimed at ending a six-week strike resumed. A union leader could not give details of the proposal. "We're just waiting for a response," said Adrian King, who leads a local at the company's Detroit manufacturing complex and sits on the bargaining committee.
Unfortunately, in the very next paragraph, there's a question about the proposal:
However, American Axle spokeswoman Renee Rogers said the company had not received a proposal from the union as of Wednesday evening but it expected to get one.
I'm still hopeful. Especially now that the UAW and AAM are back to the table.
The show of solidarity from other union members around the country has been sweet, to say the least. I especially loved the news that Chrysler workers joined the picket lines yesterday. From the Detroit News:
"It's them today, us tomorrow," said Ericka Jones, an assembler at Warren Truck. "We have to stick together -- it's called solidarity."
Dave Hodge, a striking quality operator at the American Axle plant, shook hands with several dozen Chrysler workers, many of whom slapped him on the back or promised to return with food for the picketers.
"It feels real good -- it brings us back to life," said the Detroit resident, who is entering his seventh week on the picket line.
Hodge said he's grown frustrated with company officials' comparisons to bankrupt suppliers, while seemingly not recognizing that American Axle is profitable.
"I can't accept having my pay cut in half," Hodge said. "We'll stay out as long as it takes to get a fair deal."
I'm frustrated, too, and I'm not the one on strike. Although a show of solidarity is awesome, but how much can it help negotiators? The complexity of negotiations and how a national union with a national contract negotiates in comparison to how companies eek out local contracts and local negotiations, well, it's this complexity that can be a real problem. It is also one of the problems now facing the GM employees in Parma, Ohio. You can get the gist of this from this Detroit Free Press piece:
Distinctions already exist among UAW plants at American Axle. Even among the plants involved in the strike, wage structures differ.
These distinctions are based on local issues, however, when collectively bargaining on the national level, the issues at the local level should cease to exist, not so at American Axle and many other plants, again from the Free Press.
Taking those issues to the local level in the context of a national contract is something unions try to avoid because it can be seen as a way to divide the membership, said Harley Shaiken, a labor expert at the University of California at Berkeley.
"In general it's something that a union would certainly prefer not to do because it does undermine its national presence and makes it more vulnerable to one local fighting against another for available jobs," he said. In the case of American Axle's latest talks, it's unclear if the company approached the locals or if it was the other way around.
snip
"The notion of setting wages nationally tends to strengthen the union because it avoids competition between plants," Shaiken said. But, he added, "there's always a temptation in a contract for plants to offer to cut their wages to keep their work."
In AAM's package to the UAW was a list of plants to be "idled" if they were unable to lower labor costs, lower layoff pay, and lower cash payments (buyouts). If they can't reach an agreement with the UAW, it's possible that we may be looking at more local agreements. As hopeful as I am from the signs of solidarity coming from other unions and workers and even the UAW national office, I'm still worried that American Axle workers are facing more than just the past 7 weeks of this hell, they're looking at the loss of a whole hell of a lot more, their ability to collectively bargain. Losing that leverage, is like shooting ourselves in the foot.
So, today, I'm cautiously optimistic that Jerd0708, his family and all of his co-workers will be back to work soon.
