UAW strike at American Axle forces GM to eliminate shift at Ontario plant
04/21/2008, 2:51 PM
By Drew Johnson
The UAW strike at American Axle continues to be the thorn in General Motors’ side as the strike has caused yet another production delay for the Detroit-based automaker. A shortage of axles has forced GM to eliminate one shift at its Oshawa, Ontario production facility.
GM’s Oshawa plant produces the Buick LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Impala – one of Chevrolet’s best-selling models.
In addition to the slowdown in Oshawa, GM also announced that the strike has caused it to slow production of its four-speed transmission at the company’s Ypsilanti Township, Michigan plant.
In all, the strike has caused GM to slow or idle production at 30 plants.
In addition to the UAW strike at American Axle, the UAW is striking GM’s Lansing Delta plant, which produces the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and Buick Enclave.
04/21, 2:58 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Ok, this has gone on long enough, I’m just glad they aren’t costing Americans to be out of work on this one. I don’t really agree with AA cutting the’re pay in half when they are as profitable as they are, but I don’t really agree with the $70+ an hour they get in pay and benefites. However, I’m sure the greedy CEO’s at American Axle AREN’T taking a pay cut.
04/21, 3:22 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Hemi’s last line about CEOs never getting a pay cut says it. That is the one reason I would side with the union.
It’s also one thing Obama’s gonna hit up on this summer and fall in his campaign to great effect. Stats show that the average inflation-adjusted middle American earned income has barely budged in 30 years, but that CEO pay has shot thru the roof and continues to climb, producing an income disparity more like a 3rd world dictatorship than a civilized western society. I’m generally all for a free market, but sometimes things seem a bit out of hand and I can see where this system is going to socially break down if a bit more perceived fairness isn’t put in place.
04/21, 3:57 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
CEOs have forgotten who BUYs the products, and it’s American workers. You can’t cut the money out of the bottom of the economy without
HUGE repercussions. Now, are the workers salaries out of line? Maybe. But let’s see the administration put their money where their mouth is…
04/21, 4:01 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
Unions = BAD
04/21, 4:05 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
someone at gm needs to pull a “hoffa” or something!
04/21, 4:31 PM
posted by:
gizmo2
Union can be a pain but actually this is one place where they are useful. American Axle CEOs are the problem this time. You can’t expect to cut the bottom line salary in half and keep yours the same. Sorry all the salaries need to cut, they are way too high. GM should consider dumping them and developing their own plant, even as a threat.
04/21, 6:02 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
F*cking greedy CEO’s.
04/21, 7:00 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Wow, I cant believe what i just read.
04/21, 7:13 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Believe it.
04/21, 8:12 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Is this the same LLN Hemi.
04/22, 8:06 AM
posted by:
Culley
Not to sound elitist or anything, but American Axle isn’t really that profitable. They made 37 million on 3.7 BILLION of sales…which is 1% net profit. I have my own business and that’s not a cost model I would be happy with.
04/22, 8:37 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
Why can’t the oil companies do the same?
04/22, 11:22 AM
posted by:
planet_drive
The American auto industry is on thin ice. If Obama gets elected and starts making changes that will force CEO’s and top level execs to no longer earn the ridiculously high sallaries and pay less taxes than the average worker, there will be an outrage among the wealthy and elite of America and it will just be a matter of time that Obama becomes the victim of an assination. Thats how American politics works. It favors the wealthy and elite, while the average joe (who for some strange reason is the most patriotic) continues to be the slave serving his master.
04/22, 1:08 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
^^^ Dude, you need to up the meds…
04/22, 1:18 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
He is right though. There needs to be an outrage among the middle class and maybe we’ll get back to where we should be.
04/22, 1:25 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
planet_drive is right. It’s pretty obvious that YOU are the one who needs to up the dosage of your meds…
04/25, 6:10 PM
posted by:
beantownslut
buy a ford!