At our membership meetings held Tuesday, March 17, the question came up about what we could do to help our striking union brothers and sisters at American Axle.  There were several ideas put forth and discussed by the membership, and two decisions were made.  One - that we would pass the hat at all five union meetings, and two - that the leadership would seek permission from Region 1D for our Local to either officially go down in a bus or car caravan.  Either way, we would go down and walk the picket line, or work in whatever capacity they needed us. 

History:  American Axle workers used to be part of the original Big Three auto companies.  They were former GM workers, so their UAW history is long and revered, just like ours.  Their original members marched right beside the Reuther brothers to help build this union and fought for wages and benefits we have today.  When the auto companies decided their profits could be increased by setting up individual companies like Delphi, American Axle, Visteon, Collins and Aikman, Dana Corporation, Tower Automotive, et cetera, they eventually went bankrupt. 

They also set in motion the mechanism for them to fail by the amount of orders the Big Three did or did not give them to build parts.  By squeezing these smaller companies to lower their profit margins, they were forced to take benefit and wage cuts from workers who had built up the business in the first place.  And yet two things are constant:

1.      The executives are not asked to take a 50% wage cut or comparable reduction in their compensation.  In fact they’re given golden parachutes in case the company does go bankrupt.

2.      The price of products (in this case, cars) does not go down to the consumer.  What is wrong with this picture?

American Axle workers in Three Rivers, along with their counterparts nationwide, went on strike about a month ago when their contract expired; mainly because even though their company was profitable, they wanted to cut workers wages by 50% to stay competitive.  Translation – to make larger profits.  Their CEO alone makes $174,000 a week, about $9 million a year in wages and stock, and just recently got a raise based on worldwide profit.  Sound familiar?  Not to mention what the rest of the executives make. 

According to the workers on the picket lines, in addition to cutting wages in half, they want to freeze retirement pensions and change work rules.  What bothers them most is that the company wants to take wages back to what they were 20 years ago.  We are seeing this happen more and more, and yet our utility bills, taxes, groceries, and consumer goods are not cut in half.  But of course the CEO’s will not address this.  And then what happens?  Families are going into personal bankruptcy; losing their homes, cars, et cetera.  And make no mistake about it, we will all be affected. 

This has such a far reaching and spiraling down affect on our communities, friends, and family.  As the middle class deteriorates from lower wages or loss of jobs, how many new homes, cars, washing machines, and other necessities of life can we afford?  Not to mention things like medical care, eating at restaurants, movies, and other industries built around the wages of working people.  This economy cannot exist with just poor people and rich people.  In order to survive and grow, it needs a middle class; and we’re it.  This is why it is so important for us to support the workers of American Axle.  They are fighting the fight for working American families everywhere. 

Almost 30 GM plants alone are affected by this strike right now, and it won’t be long before all of them are shut down if it isn’t settled. 

Everyone Has Been Great:  With that in mind, the collection taken at the March union meetings was presented by our Chairman, Steve Rop, Joan, Rocky Love, and Brenda Brott to Local 2093 President Erv Heidbrink and Shop Chairman David Morris to be used as needed.  Steve had also picked up water and coffee for their use. 

We were told the whole community of Three Rivers has been showing support, as well as other Local Unions by providing food, wood to burn in barrels to stay warm outside, and anything that is needed to help the strikers last one more day.  This is true solidarity and both Erv and David wanted to say to our membership, “Thank you and solidarity forever”.

Submitted by Rocky Love, Vice President, Local 730