Despite GM offer American Axle strike continues
Friday, May 09, 2008
Talks continued a day after General Motors Corp. offered to pay $200 million to end a United Auto Workers strike against American Axle & Manufacturing.
Renee Rogers, an American Axle spokeswoman, said little had changed since GM made its offer Thursday, May 8.
Extras
More than 3,600 UAW members struck American Axle Feb. 26, shutting off a flow of rear axles and other parts to the GM SUV plant in Moraine, as well as about 30 other GM plants nationally. The strike has also affected the DMAX truck engine plant in Moraine and suppliers to those facilities.
John Harlow, shop chairman for the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communication Workers of America Local 798 — which represents more than 2,000 workers at the local GM plant — said he hoped the automaker's offer would bring both sides closer to a resolution.
"I believe it's definitely the start to put an end to that," Harlow said.
For the time being, however, "no definitive answers" have emerged from the talks in Detroit, he said.
American Axle has offered its workers $140,000 to leave the company as well as a $90,000 "buydown" bonus to accept lower wages and benefits. GM's offer — which is predicated on a swift resolution to the 10-week-old strike — is meant to help pay for that.
A UAW spokesman could not be reached. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger told a Detroit newspaper last week that he was not trying to pull GM into the dispute with American Axle.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
