UAW makes proposal in American Axle negotiations

The proposal came on Wednesday, the first day of formal negotiations between the union and the company since March 10, and follows a private between UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and American Axle CEO Richard Dauch. The union kept the details of their proposal secret from the 3,650 striking workers in Michigan and New York, saying they were awaiting a response by the company.

The UAW bureaucracy, however, has made clear that it is prepared to offer major concessions. In a column published last week, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said the union had already made proposals that will mean real sacrifices by our members and real savings for the company.

Wall Street investors bought up American Axle stock on Thursday in response to the news, anticipating that the strike is near an end and the company would get most of what it is asking for. American Axle shares rose by 5.3 percent in morning trading, to $22.08. GM shares also got a boost, rising by 3.1 percent, to $20.75.

>The WSWS spoke to striking American Axle workers on the picket line in Detroit as the negotiations continued on Thursday. Jim, a toolmaker, has been at the plant since 1995. He said, [AAM CEO Richard] Dauch made $10 million last year. Our wages are just a small fraction of that. Its all about money and more money; thats what they want.

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