UAW union strike threatens General Motors truck production

UAW union strike threatens General Motors truck production

• Nearly 1,000 workers at a Michigan supplier plant that makes parts for GM pickup trucks went on strike Monday after not reaching a new contract deal.
• The United Auto Workers union on Monday confirmed workers at an axle and components plant in Three Rivers, Mich. for Dauch Corp. (formerly known as American Axle and Manufacturing) are on strike.
• The plant is a key supplier for General Motors' pickup trucks.

DETROIT – Nearly 1,000 workers at a Michigan supplier plant that makes parts for General Motors pickup trucks went on strike Monday after not reaching a new contract with the company.

The United Auto Workers union on Monday confirmed workers at an axle and components plant in Three Rivers, Mich. for Dauch Corp. (formerly known as American Axle and Manufacturing) walked out of the factory and onto picket lines at 12:01 a.m. ET Monday.

The union did not release a full list of demands, but said in a press release Sunday night that workers are still trying to regain wages lost during the Great Recession.

"We'll stay out on strike until this company comes to its senses," UAW President Shawn Fain said during a Sunday video announcement. "The full force of the UAW international union will be standing with these workers. So, American Axle, time is up. No contract, no axles."

The union said longtime workers who were making as much as $29 an hour saw their wages slashed to $14.50 in 2008. Current wages top out at $22 an hour after a five-year progression, the union said.

A spokesman for Dauch in an emailed statement called the strike "disappointing." He did not immediately respond to a question about bargaining details.

"The company believes that the best outcomes for everyone – our associates, the union, and the company – are reached at the bargaining table. We remain committed to negotiating with the union in good faith and hope to promptly reach a fair agreement," the company statement read.

A spokesman for GM said the automaker "is closely monitoring the situation" and "assessing any potential impact." As of Monday, production at GM's plants was operating as usual.

The impacted plant produces axles for GM's Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickup trucks as well as its heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. Other production includes smaller components for the Detroit automaker's light-duty Silverado and Sierra pickups as well as parts of Stellantis' Chrysler Pacifica minivan, a union spokesman confirmed.

Stellantis did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Josh Jager, a 24-year American Axle employee and chairman of the bargaining committee for UAW Local 2093, which represents the striking workers, told the Wall Street Journal that GM appears to have about two weeks' worth of axles in stock.

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