This is
a special edition of Labor Upfront. The goal of Labor Upfront is to
provide members and friends with news, information, and general ways to
stay connected with the on-going struggles of workers. You can also
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Scott Marshall, Labor Commission Chair
Melissa O’Rourke, Labor Commission Coordinator, Labor Upfront editor
Special Edition Strike
Update: AMERICAN AXLE
Voices
from the Strike Line
Voices reaching out
online
Resolution
of Support for American Axle Workers
Ways to
support the striking workers
(People's
Weekly World/John Rummel)
Workers
remain solid
in American Axle strike
By John
Rummel, People's Weekly World
DETROIT — More than
3,650 members of the United Auto Workers at
American Axle have been on strike in Michigan, Indiana and New York
since Feb. 26.
American Axle called back 140 workers
March 31 who returned to work
just long enough to say they were out on strike and immediately joined
the UAW picket lines outside the plant. Workers had to choose between
their unemployment checks or going out on strike.
 For Amanda Murry, the choice
was easy. She said, “I have
to show solidarity. You go in there and start working, you’d cut out
the others and there’d be no family, you’d have no union, you’d bust
the union wide open. The union helps keep our benefits, helps keep our
raises, helps keep our wages, period. I’ve got a family and I know a
lot of people out there who’ve got families and cannot pay their
mortgages or bills.”
UAW Local 235 Vice
President Bill Alford said, “No question about it,
they were going to join our strike. They understand the cause. They
know why we’re here, why we’re out here fighting. We have shut down
over 30 GM plants — 3 percent of the gross national product of this
country. Our company at American Axle has  over
90 suppliers — those people aren’t doing anything right now. Each one
of those GM plants has over 90 suppliers, those people aren’t doing
anything either. People understand this is
the front line. If that guy (CEO Dick Dauch) gets what he wants and
he’s making money, where does it end? Where does it stop? Who’s to say
who gets the next cut? Next time we may be over at GM helping those
guys stay out.
“Look at how vast and far reaching this
strike is. We’re getting
support from Toledo to California. Trying to all work together and
stick together to get through this so we don’t have to fight this fight
somewhere else.”
Voices calling out
online
We received this
e-mail from the wife of an American Axle worker last
week, a letter her husband wrote. This is the voice we so often don't
hear from a media spinning what's best for the corporate CEO's, what
will make Wall Street stronger rather than what the people walking down
Main Street need to survive and live a comfortable life. Workers don't
ask for much, just a fair wage and a decent job. Evidently the
corporate leadership think that's too much to ask for. For us, the
voices of the workers are the ones that should be heard above all
others, and I invite anyone else affected by this strike to share their
thoughts also. E-mail them to laborupfront "at_"cpusa_.org,
or
submit a
comment to our blog.
Hello. Below is a
copy of a letter that my husband has
written to Dick Dauch and the Shareholders of American Axle. I ask that
you share this letter. Whether it be online or your website. Thank you
for your time and consideration.
J.G.
“It is no secret that AAM and the UAW
are at odds with the new
contract. It is no secret that the rumors, of the proposed contracts,
are going to hurt thousands of families. And, it is no secret that we,
as AAM families, simply can’t stand for it.
AAM states the Detroit facilities are
losing money. Consequently, it is
our fault and we need to take a pay cut to adjust their profits
accordingly. Well, I wonder if Mr. Dauch knows how his plant is
mismanaged and that he is misinformed by his management. There are
quite a few costly issues with the Forge. Issues that have been
discussed with management numerous times. Issues that could save AAM
considerable amounts of money. He needs to come down to the floor and
speak with the men and women that work hard for him and honestly know
the” ins and outs” of their machines and departments. He would hear
honest opinions and thorough suggestions that would better
productivity. It would change his idea of what his workers really do
and in time will even see better profits. I guarantee it!" Letter
continues here.
Model
resolution in
support of striking American Axle workers
Whereas, UAW workers
have been forced out on strike at American Axle
for the right to review company financial records in their current
contract talks, and
Whereas, American Axle is demanding
draconian cuts in wages and
benefits at a time when they have increasing profits and the CEO is
paid over $10 million a year, a 9.6% increase in his pay over last
year, and
Whereas, in the current economic crisis
American Axle workers are on
the front line in defending basic economic standards, including wages,
health care, work rules and more for all workers, and
Whereas, given the dog-eat-dog, pro big
business atmosphere promoted by
the Bush/McCain Republicans and the corporate right-wing, workers must
rely on broad labor solidarity, therefore
Be it resolved, that ___________ stands
in solidarity with the UAW and
the American Axle workers in demanding that American Axle withdraw it’s
outrageous concessionary demands and engage in constructive
negotiations that will guarantee American Axle workers a fair share of
rising productivity and profits, and further
Be it resolved that we call on all of
labor to support and be prepared,
as we are, to do all in our power to help win a fair contract for
American Axle workers.
You can also find this resolution
online here.
Send resolutions to:
Kenny Kapa, UAW Region 1
27800 George Merrelli Drive
Warren, MI 48092
and also send them to:
UAW Local 235
Attn: Adrian King, President
2140 Holbrook Ave.
Hamtramck, MI 48212
phone: 313-871-1190
or email Bill Alford Jr., Vice President, Local 235, billalford74"at_"yahoo_.com
Adopt a local, head
out to the strike
lines to take coffee, snacks, or march in solidarity with the workers!
Kenny Kapa, UAW
Region 1 Servicing Representative, is in charge of
collecting assistance for the American Axle strikers at locals 235 and
262; checks can be made out to Region 1 UAW and sent to address for
Kenny Kapa above.
American Axle plants on strike:
1840 Holbrook Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212-3488
1 Manufacturing Dr, Three Rivers, MI 49093-8915
1001 E Delavan Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215
2390 Kenmore Ave, Tonawanda, NY 14150-7847
2799 Walden Ave, Cheektowaga, NY 14225
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"at_"cpusa_.org
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