[Ming]

'This is a Class War' -- Auto Workers Fight 50 Percent Pay Cut Demand
By Wendy Thompson
Alternet.org
April 15, 2008.

Holbrook Avenue is a busy thoroughfare stretching from I-75 to downtown Hamtramck, a small town enclosed on all sides by Detroit. Cars honk in support of striking members of UAW Local 235 as they pass five picket lines filled 24 hours a day on both sides of the street along the large American Axle and Manufacturing (AAM) complex.

There are five more lines going south on St. Aubin Street, and two to the north. Spirits are high, and strikers are dressed warmly to face the bitter tail of winter weather.

More than 3,600 American Axle workers have been on strike since February 26 at this plant and four other plants in Detroit and Three Rivers, Michigan, and two Buffalo suburbs, Cheektowaga and Tonawanda, New York. The plants produce the axles and parts for every General Motors light truck and SUV built in North America. Their chokehold on auto production was quickly felt: 28 GM plants at press time have stopped their lines as a result of the strike.

Many workers prepared for the strike and are ready to stay out as long as it takes. One Detroit plant worker had gone as far as putting aside money for two years in anticipation of the strike. When asked about how he was faring four weeks into the strike he replied, "like a piece of cake."

Picketers talk about the need to draw a line in the sand against spiraling concessions on wages, health care benefits, and pensions.

American Axle stands out in the U.S. auto industry because it has stayed profitable since spinning off from General Motors. Staying in the black hasn't stopped the company's CEO, **** Dauch -- who himself averaged $14.5 million in annual compensation between 2003 and 2006 -- from demanding two-tier wage concessions.

In 2004, American Axle workers were told by the company and the UAW International that they had to accept two-tier wages. Although the AAM contract was voted down in the Detroit flagship plant, it passed nationally over job security fears.

In 2007, two-tier wages were expanded to the Big 3. Now AAM wants the same wage scale found at those companies, a scale that nearly halves starting wages from $27 to $14 an hour.

Strikers, for their part, are demanding wage parity with Ford and Chrysler axle workers, where the union never conceded on two tier. Shifting Gears, a rank-and-file newsletter distributed at all American Axle plants, has consistently hammered over the last year on the need for wage parity in its pages.

Community and union supporters have been a constant presence on the picket lines -- as has their food and donations. GM, Chrysler, Ford, and Delphi workers stop by the lines and commonly voice their support for the kind of strike action they wished they had seen at their companies.

"We know that American Axle workers got two-tier [wages] in 2004, and in 2008 it was forced on us," said one such picket line supporter, Marcus Hamilton, a Pontiac Truck and Bus worker. "If they force wage cuts on seniority workers at a profitable company, it will come back on us next time... This is a class war."

Plant closings are also a major issue in the strike. After the union refused to open up the contract in 2006 to grant concessions, the company idled Buffalo Gear and Axle plant despite "no plant closing" contract language. The work was moved to American Axle operations in Mexico.

The corporation may be using its profitability to maneuver away from union shops. Last September, American Axle opened a non-union forging operation in Oxford, Michigan, and declared that it wanted to close two forges covered by the contract.

There are now only 3,600 workers left in plants covered by the national pattern agreement, and the company wants to eliminate 1,000 more.

The strike is technically not over plant closings or wages, though. The UAW has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board that the company has withheld information during negotiations. The annual cost of the prescription drug plan and vision plan, and the company's calculations on the per-hour cost of retiree health care and pension plans, were among the points of information the company withheld.

FULL ARTICLE

 

[big swede]

Am I the only one who thinks we should have a Union business section so we don't have all these endless union threads clogging up what most of us come here for (car talk). That way anyone who wants to read the union information everyday can happily go to that section and read/type away.

 

[Slideways]

$14 per hour works out to $29,000 per year. That's what I made at my first job after getting my bachelor's, and I live in Southern California. They are not going to get any sympathy from me.

 

[tgagneguam]

I'm not so sure how successful these workers will be in the long-term attempting to secure their current compensation, but I honestly cannot blame these folks for not just gladly accepting a 50% paycut without question. It's fine to say that it's better than not having a job, but no reasonable person would accept this without some stink.

Am I the only one who thinks we should have a Union business section so we don't have all these endless union threads clogging up what most of us come here for (car talk). That way anyone who wants to read the union information everyday can happily go to that section and read/type away.

As usual, big swede, you make a reasonable point.

 

[tamatt27]

Well since they prodice the axles that are used in the trucks and SUV's, which aren't selling very well at the moment, GM's not chomping at the bit to reach a settlement methinks.

 

[bigbillsfan]

$14 per hour works out to $29,000 per year. That's what I made at my first job after getting my bachelor's, and I live in Southern California. They are not going to get any sympathy from me.

would you do what they do for a living?

probably not, than you wouldn't be able to anoint yourself superior by fact of your education, would you?

why do so many people on this site carry such disdain towards people that are fighting for their livelihoods?

it's weird to me that you all are so cavalier about someone else's job, and the fact that you all seem to have no problem with the companies making millions in profit from the hard work that these men and women contribute to these companies.

you also seem to have no issue with the recent trend of eroding the working mans wage as a new revenue stream,

i wonder if the only way any of you would be happy is if the american working class were reduced to the working poor of some third world country. at some point you have to open your eyes and realise that working people making a good wage pump money back into the economy instead of into the pockets of mega rich executives and greedy stock holders.

by the way its good that you got yourself a good college education because we need people with a good education to maintain our level of society, but remember that while you were at school working hard to get your self educated that these men and women were working hard feeding their families and supporting the economy as well.

 

[tkrelston]

Automate...problem solved!

 

[Slideways]

would you do what they do for a living?

probably not, than you wouldn't be able to anoint yourself superior by fact of your education would you?

why do so many people on this site carry such disdain towards people that are fighting for their livelihoods?

it's weird to me that you all are so cavalier about someone else's job, and the fact that you all seem to have no problem with the companies making millions in profit from the hard work that these men and women contribute to these companies.

you also seem to have no issue with the recent trend of eroding the working mans wage as a new revenue stream,

i wonder if the only way any of you would be happy is if the american working class were reduced to the working poor of some third world country. at some point you have to open your eyes and realise that working people making a good wage pump money back into the economy instead of into the pockets of mega rich executives and greedy stock holders.

by the way its good that you got yourself a good college education because we need people with a good education to maintain our level of society, but remember that while you were at school working hard to get your self educated that these men and women were working hard feeding there families and supporting the economy as well.

I AM working class! Just because I went to college doesn't change that or mean I don't know how to work for a wage. The two are not mutually exclusive. I had several jobs before, and two during, my four years at college. I did construction work and I didn't make $14 per hour. In fact, none of my hourly jobs made that much. The fact that the entry, ENTRY, pay was $56,000 per year is insane! It is unrealistic to expect that sort of compensation. I have every right to be angry at people who think that's what's "fair". I was in college for four years and got out to an economy where my job skills were valued at $29,000 per year, while someone with a high school diploma walks into American Axle and gets roughly twice that. Actually, factor in cost of living, and $56,000 in Michigan is like $84,000 in Orange County. For comparison's sake, $29,000 in Orange County is like $18,000 in Detroit.

 

[K-1]

it's weird to me that you all are so cavalier about someone else's job, and the fact that you all seem to have no problem with the companies making millions in profit from the hard work that these men and women contribute to these companies.

You make it sound like a company making a profit is a bad thing.

 

[Brglotus]

would you do what they do for a living?

probably not, than you wouldn't be able to anoint yourself superior by fact of your education, would you?

why do so many people on this site carry such disdain towards people that are fighting for their livelihoods?

it's weird to me that you all are so cavalier about someone else's job, and the fact that you all seem to have no problem with the companies making millions in profit from the hard work that these men and women contribute to these companies.

you also seem to have no issue with the recent trend of eroding the working mans wage as a new revenue stream,

i wonder if the only way any of you would be happy is if the american working class were reduced to the working poor of some third world country. at some point you have to open your eyes and realise that working people making a good wage pump money back into the economy instead of into the pockets of mega rich executives and greedy stock holders.

by the way its good that you got yourself a good college education because we need people with a good education to maintain our level of society, but remember that while you were at school working hard to get your self educated that these men and women were working hard feeding their families and supporting the economy as well.

I don't think anyone wants to see the working class of America just go away and be down graded to some 3rd world country, but there's something wrong with a system that provides better salaries with no education then jobs that require a 4 year degree at a cost of $50,000. I think the biggest problem is is that the UAW members that I know (I have family in the UAW) feel like somehow they deserve to make that much money and complain constantly because they had to pay for a doctors visit, something the rest of us all have to do, or they deserve more money. I do feel a little bad for those families that will be affected by this, but it was only a matter of time before the gravy train dried up. It was the UAW leaders, management, world market, and ultimately greed that put everyone into the current position. Those on the first teir always have the option to get student loans, and go to school full/part time like the rest of us and find another job to do. The world has changed and it's time the UAW do the same. I have yet to meet a UAW employee that feels they truly deserve the pay they get. They turn around and spend most of their money on drugs, hookers, and alcohol during lunch breaks and then go in and build a car. Yeah, they deserve every penny. I know too many people that work in the two plants close to me that do this.

 

[DDelphic]

would you do what they do for a living?

probably not, than you wouldn't be able to anoint yourself superior by fact of your education, would you?

why do so many people on this site carry such disdain towards people that are fighting for their livelihoods?

it's weird to me that you all are so cavalier about someone else's job, and the fact that you all seem to have no problem with the companies making millions in profit from the hard work that these men and women contribute to these companies.

you also seem to have no issue with the recent trend of eroding the working mans wage as a new revenue stream,

i wonder if the only way any of you would be happy is if the american working class were reduced to the working poor of some third world country. at some point you have to open your eyes and realise that working people making a good wage pump money back into the economy instead of into the pockets of mega rich executives and greedy stock holders.

by the way its good that you got yourself a good college education because we need people with a good education to maintain our level of society, but remember that while you were at school working hard to get your self educated that these men and women were working hard feeding their families and supporting the economy as well.

Well said,
I don't think that all folks think that way though, thankfully.The US autoworker has had to fight tooth and nail in the last ten years doing twice the work that they used to do.With someone from management (mostly a temp worker) with a timestudy watch clicking away.Or a scoreboard over their head telling what the number should be and what it actually is.It seems that they now do not like machines and robotics anymore because thay can push and shove a person around where they scratch their ass when a machine goes down.
The amount of physical and mental stress is extremely high.The medical plan is terrible now and most wonder why GM cannot see what VW, BMW and the others see right here in the USA.They are all planning on building here.Maybe GM will be an overseas or Mexican company when they realise that some Americans want to support their own people in their communities.......be it VW, Nissan, Honda.....on and on.That would exclude GM in many cases, and include the so called foreign companies.Don't give me the arguement that the profits go back to the home country because most people see it as helping the assemblers/ workers in their collective communities.
We all drive cars, even the well educated........auto assembly and parts for them are important!


:yup:

 

[chade]

would you do what they do for a living?

probably not, than you wouldn't be able to anoint yourself superior by fact of your education, would you?

why do so many people on this site carry such disdain towards people that are fighting for their livelihoods?

it's weird to me that you all are so cavalier about someone else's job, and the fact that you all seem to have no problem with the companies making millions in profit from the hard work that these men and women contribute to these companies.

you also seem to have no issue with the recent trend of eroding the working mans wage as a new revenue stream,

i wonder if the only way any of you would be happy is if the american working class were reduced to the working poor of some third world country. at some point you have to open your eyes and realise that working people making a good wage pump money back into the economy instead of into the pockets of mega rich executives and greedy stock holders.

by the way its good that you got yourself a good college education because we need people with a good education to maintain our level of society, but remember that while you were at school working hard to get your self educated that these men and women were working hard feeding their families and supporting the economy as well.

Definitely agree. America seems to be enriching only those at the top while many in the middle and low ranks are asked to do more for less. I am a mid-level professional. While my pay raises are kept at the cost of living adjustment (even with great reviews), my superiors are privy to deferred comp pkgs, bonuses, options, profit sharing, as well as very lucrative base pay. And, this isn't limited to large or small companies, both privately held and public. My position allows me to view executive compensation. I'll tell you, it doesn't seem right when your boss tells you they are limiting wages because of the anticipated slowdown, yet they are paid out very large bonuses. While I understand the different salary grades, I don't understand why the top continues to outpace the middle and bottom by so much.

I recently interviewed for a job where I would be paid a bonus up to 40% of my pay. That, on top of a $95k salary. That level of bonus while my staff had no bonus/profit sharing package. My thoughts, when I achieve those levels, 50% of the bonus would be shared with my staff. Only fair since they are the ones that helped me achieve my success.

 

[Clownzilla]

I AM working class! Just because I went to college doesn't change that or mean I don't know how to work for a wage. The two are not mutually exclusive. I had several jobs before, and two during, my four years at college. I did construction work and I didn't make $14 per hour. In fact, none of my hourly jobs made that much. The fact that the entry, ENTRY, pay was $56,000 per year is insane! It is unrealistic to expect that sort of compensation. I have every right to be angry at people who think that's what's "fair". I was in college for four years and got out to an economy where my job skills were valued at $29,000 per year, while someone with a high school diploma walks into American Axle and gets roughly twice that. Actually, factor in cost of living, and $56,000 in Michigan is like $84,000 in Orange County. For comparison's sake, $29,000 in Orange County is like $18,000 in Detroit.

You are exactly right! You know, I too have a four year degree and got payed WAY less starting out in IT than a union factory worker. I wanted paid more so I started studying other subjects. I'm currently taking night classes in Spanish (which I have some knowledge in) and Chinese( which I am learning from scratch). That is what it will take to get a nice increase in pay, so instead of bitching about my employer not paying me some insane wage I'm doing something to get paid that "insane wage". It's all about getting the skills the current economy wants, and factory skills are not in much demand in the USA anymore when the Chinese do it cheaper and in many cases better. Yes, I know union workers cringe when I say this but this is not the China of the 80's and 90's. China is becoming a well oiled building machine and we have to realize that and adapt to that in our job market in the USA.

 

[wildgoosechase]

All it will take to end this strike is for AAM to close one factory and move the lines out of the country. Once the "For Sale" sign is posted outside the factory the strike will end.

 

[hotrod1949]

All it will take to end this strike is for AAM to close one factory and move the lines out of the country. Once the "For Sale" sign is posted outside the factory the strike will end.

I doubt it, the workers know that once the give backs begin, they won't end.

 

[HoosierRon]

$14 per hour works out to $29,000 per year. That's what I made at my first job after getting my bachelor's, and I live in Southern California. They are not going to get any sympathy from me.

Why are you so bitter? Instead of saying "screw them", why not say "these are my fellow countrymen. I hope that working men and women who have children to clothe and feed can be successful. I hope that I live in a country where everyone can find a good paying job that allows them to live well."

What do you think "God bless America" means? Does it mean "I hope those Americans who want to make more than $28,000 a year lose their jobs"?

 

[TruckMan]

Am I the only one who thinks we should have a Union business section so we don't have all these endless union threads clogging up what most of us come here for (car talk). That way anyone who wants to read the union information everyday can happily go to that section and read/type away.

I second the motion - along with all the posts about ethanol from corn and crap. This site is supposed to be about cars and products, not politics and tree hugging.

 

[logansowner]

would you do what they do for a living?

probably not, than you wouldn't be able to anoint yourself superior by fact of your education, would you?

why do so many people on this site carry such disdain towards people that are fighting for their livelihoods?

it's weird to me that you all are so cavalier about someone else's job, and the fact that you all seem to have no problem with the companies making millions in profit from the hard work that these men and women contribute to these companies.

you also seem to have no issue with the recent trend of eroding the working mans wage as a new revenue stream,

i wonder if the only way any of you would be happy is if the American working class were reduced to the working poor of some third world country. at some point you have to open your eyes and realise that working people making a good wage pump money back into the economy instead of into the pockets of mega rich executives and greedy stock holders.

by the way its good that you got yourself a good college education because we need people with a good education to maintain our level of society, but remember that while you were at school working hard to get your self educated that these men and women were working hard feeding their families and supporting the economy as well.

Boohoo. Back when I was working the summer between graduating High School and going to university, I was working with a roofing company. And guess what, I made LESS than the people who were there for years and knew what they were doing.

I was the new guy, and needed to learn, so I made less. Boofekinghoo.

But had I been in a union, I guess I could have demanded to make the 30 whatever an hour they made, despite being practically clueless about the job.

And no, university doesn't make me better than anyone, but what it does do is act as a filter when employers are sifting through resume's. It proves that this person can dedicate at least 4 years to something, whereas a HS diploma doesn't really tell anybody anything.

So a degree won't make me better, but it will make me stand out, and with 100 applications per job, that is important.

 

[TruckMan]

Why are you so bitter? Instead of saying "screw them", why not say "these are my fellow countrymen. I hope that working men and women who have children to clothe and feed can be successful. I hope that I live in a country where everyone can find a good paying job that allows them to live well."

What do you think "God bless America" means? Does it mean "I hope those Americans who want to make more than $28,000 a year lose their jobs"?

America is supposed to be the land of the free - not land of the free money. Unions are unfair to everybody but the people that are in them. It's economic blackmail - give us what we want, not what we deserve, or else we're not going to do any work. They think they're entitled to more than the average American because they're in a union. That sounds more like communism or socialism than free enterprise. That's why people don't like them.

 

[logansowner]

Why are you so bitter? Instead of saying "screw them", why not say "these are my fellow countrymen. I hope that working men and women who have children to clothe and feed can be successful. I hope that I live in a country where everyone can find a good paying job that allows them to live well."

What do you think "God bless America" means? Does it mean "I hope those Americans who want to make more than $28,000 a year lose their jobs"?

Where do we draw the line of high wages for monkey positions? The half retarded pot head 25 year old making my burgers would probably like more money,, should he make $28hr too? Frankly he works at LEAST as hard as most union "my break is at 3:00, it's 2:59, I'll just drop this windshield and go" workers.

I guess I just have more of a military personality, where I think we should heal each other, whereas it seems the unions goal is everyone should only do what's best for them, screw anyone else.