WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Today marks the start of the second week of a strike by United Auto Workers union members for Dauch Corporation – formerly American Axle – with no apparent resolution in sight.
Employees have reiterated they would like to see top-level wages rise from $22 an hour to $30 an hour. In addition, employees are seeking better benefits. They said a number of concessions were given back in 2008, when the company was close to shutting down the Three Rivers plant.
Now, workers would like to see wages return to where they were – closer to the $30-an-hour mark – prior to that sacrifice.
The strike is affecting about 975 hourly workers at St. Joseph County’s largest employer.
Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, joined UAW Local 2093 members on the picket line at different times last week.
