Breaking...CNN....American Axle: Sought Mediator In Strike Talks, UAW Rejected

[Omaha Steve]

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200804131747DOWJONESDJONLINE000343_FORTUNE5.htm

April 13, 2008: 05:47 PM EST

DETROIT -(Dow Jones)- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL), dealing with a seven-week-old strike at five of its U.S. plants, said it requested a federal mediator to help with negotiations, but that the United Auto Workers union refused to allow it.

American Axle said it was disappointed in the UAW's decision.

A UAW spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment.

About 3,650 American Axle workers represented by the UAW at five plants in Michigan and New York have been on strike since Feb. 26 in a dispute over wages and benefits.

The strike has forced customer General Motors Corp. (GM) to idle all or parts of 30 plants and has forced other suppliers to idle operations.

American Axle, in a statement Sunday, said it requested a federal mediator from the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service "to assist in the company's ongoing negotiations with the UAW. AAM had hoped that the involvement of an impartial third party at the bargaining table could assist both sides."

FULL story at link.

[Dr.Phool]

1. Impartial my ass.

There's no such thing in a Republican Administration.

[notadmblnd]

2. I was told today that GM had decided to get their axles from Mexico

I guess that means they've decided to bust this Union. Will American Axle go the way the newspaper unions went in the 90's

[BearSquirrel2]

3. I think UAW should settle ...

I think UAW should settle, but if they don't want a mediator, one is not necessary. My guess is that the fix is in and Bush will force the workers back to assembly line. In which case, I encourage them to raise hell!!!

[catnhatnh]

4. This is typical "contemporary" corporate management...

at contract time when discussions should be about the value of increased worker efficiency, needed workrule changes, and cost of living, instead the entire negotiation is a discussion of just how much money workers will have to surrender, and how much the union will have to prostrate itself to keep any jobs there.And the sad fact is that in the current climate any appointed arbiter will buy into that framework and discuss how much to take away rather than if taking is even appropriate.