While the six week old American Axle strike that closed or slowed production at 30 GM parts suppliers or assembly plants still isn’t over, the world’s biggest automaker decided to shift its axle supply to pickup truck plants and idle SUV production instead. Citing a sufficient supply of SUVs, the much-needed parts will be diverted to two plants that build the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pick-up trucks.
The affected assembly plants include the Fort Wayne, Indiana and Oshawa, Ontario in Canada factories. Fort Wayne resumed work on Monday with one shift, with another starting up next Monday, as per Automotive News. Oshawa lines will start rolling again on April 21, with two shifts. GM workers in Arlington, Texas, who assemble the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, will be idled starting next week, April 14.
The same workers at the Arlington plant are striking, along with those from four other plants, though GM spokesperson Dan Flores assured the press the decision to idle the plant came before the strike was announced.
A research paper from auto analyst Aaron Bragman of Global Insight suggests the UAW may be trying to bring GM to the negotiating table by these local strikes. American Axle CEO Richard E. Dauch and UAW President Ron Gettelfinger were scheduled to meet on Monday regarding the strike.



04/07, 1:44 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Good move
04/07, 3:53 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
Yay.
04/07, 4:26 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Truck inventory getting a little low?
04/07, 7:37 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Good, GM, good. Don’t let those American Axle bastards screw with your pick-up truck production.