'This Is Class War'- Auto Parts Workers Battle Demand to Cut Wages in Half

[Orwellian_Ghost]

Auto Parts Workers Battle Demand to Cut Wages in Half
— Wendy Thompson



Picketers at American Axle talk about the need to draw a line in the sand—or snow—against spiraling concessions on wages, health care benefits, and pensions. Photo: Jim WestHolbrook 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.

LINE IN THE SAND

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.

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http://labornotes.org/node/1586

[Merlot]

1. Picketers should demand executive salarys be cut by the same percentage

Starte watching some heads explode then