I know this is coming as a SHOCK to everyone here, but Kongsberg has decide to CLOSE another plant.  This one is in Sweden, again.  Wonder if they’re moving those operations to the new Polish plant or somewhere with even fewer environmental laws and lower taxes.  But hey, don’t take my word for it, take a read of ABN, below the fold

I'm taking a break from my American Axle diaries today to bring you a different kind of labor story, a Mother's Day labor story.  I'm also hoping that the strike will be ending soon and I'm hoping that I'll get to post that info in the next 24 hours.  I've got my fingers crossed on this one.

Now, for Mother's Day and giving flowers.

Come on and join me after the flip:

About Freaking time!!

General Motors said Thursday that it had agreed to give as much as $200 million to a parts supplier, American Axle and Manufacturing, to help settle a 10-week strike that has reduced or halted production at 32 G.M. factories.

Way to step up GM, way to freaking step up!!  More from the New York Times

There's movement at AAM, but it doesn't really seem that good.  There appears to  be a framework now between the UAW and American Axle (AAM).  And that Framework may include local agreements:

from Freep:

More than two months into the UAW's strike at American Axle & Manufacturing, it appears that the two sides have pulled together a potential framework for a settlement, which likely will include buyouts, buy-downs in exchange for lower wages and the closure of at least two plants.

A settlement potentially would shed American Axle's national UAW contract, replacing it with individual agreements for the surviving plants, said people briefed on the talks.

I know, I'm trying to train the trained, but maybe you know someone who'd be able to use this kind of help, because...

This Saturday, I will be working with an absolutely amazing group of bloggers. We will be providing a workshop on E-Activism and Blogging and yes, it has a very labor slant at the DC Democratic State Convention at the University of the District of Columbia.


Space is limited!!

So Use This Link and SIGN UP NOW!!

Now, you know anyone in DC who'd benefit from this, please, send it to them.  Know any union members who'd like to put their voice out there but are afraid, have them come out and talk to us! We want to hear their voices!!

On May 1st, I will buy no products, travel nowhere, pay for no services, nor will I work.

For 8 hours.  On May 1st, I’ll remember the more than 4,000 American soldiers who have fallen, the countless thousands who have come home without legs, arms, eyes or the ability to walk.  I will remember those now in mental hospitals and all those now living on the streets, still at war in their heads. I will remember all the innocent lives lost in Iraq, children, elderly, mothers, fathers, and I will keep in mind that we can change it all this November. And I will also remember all my brothers and sisters lost while doing their jobs.

I’m planning to support the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and
Worker's Memorial Day (actually April 28th) by not working the day shift on May 1st.  

I get one diary a day on here, damnit.  From Chokeholds in Detroit to Lock outs in Van Wert Ohio, there simply isn't enough time in the day to remind all of us that our jobs do matter. That work matters. That we matter.

So, this morning, I opened my e-mail and found that UNITE-HERE is struggling to make jobs in Canada matter at the Men's Warehouse.  You see, Men's Warehouse has decided to close their factory and move.

Yesterday, families and strikers mounted a rally in Detroit to highlight American Axle's desire to screw their workers while continuing to reap huge profits and dishing out million dollar bonuses to CEO and other executives.

And despite more than 37,000 workers off their jobs, 3650 American Axle Workers on strike, more than 30 plants shut AND 3 different countries affected, we still have nothing From Obama, Clinton and Mr. No-Right-To-Work-tax-your-benefits-anti-EFCA-McSame.

Not a    F   U   C   K   I   N   G     Word. Not one!

So, the union and other allies, families and friends, put together a rally.  And then things went horribly bad.

I know, I know, another American Axle story?


Since they've been on strike now for 3 days short of 2 months, or for those counting...


57 days


To be honest, this is a diary because it's incredibly important and needs to be brought up, over and over and over again.  Maybe then, a few might put some pressure on the candidates to address the strike and the THOUSANDS currently out of work because of the strike and not because they are actually on strike.


Okay, so let's get to the meat of today's bit of gloom and doom...

Well, looks like GM may finally enter the fray on American Axle and Dick Dauch’s resolve not to negotiate, from CBS channel 3 News in Michigan:

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - It looks like striking American Axle workers will stay on those picket lines a little longer.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger says the company didn't do much negotiating with the union over the weekend.

He says he's not sure when they'll actually reach an agreement.

Crossposted on  Uniongal

Today, it's official, another US manufactoring plant has gone on strike.  This time, a little more reporting on it and a link to the American axle strike, too.

I wonder why it is that Gibson and Stephanopoulos  couldn't clear the crap from in front of their eyes long enough to see that this kind of crap, is really why we're bitter.  And I'm damn bitter about HAVING to STRIKE and Being Locked OUT!!

On April 7th, I posted about how an Add-on Delegate in DC who'd been working on behalf of and had endorsed Clinton lied to the committee to get the add on.

Well, ready to hear the result?

There are days when I think, I’m not getting through.  That I’m just talking for talking sake.  Then there are the days when my 14 year old reminds me that not only does it sink in, but that she’s learned from the example I have created for her.

Today she e-mailed me to ask questions about the Democratic Party’s platform for a paper she’s been assigned.  The assignment:

what are the platform issues and what is the party doing to ensure adoption of the platform issues?

Okay, I give her a few ideas off the top of my head:

Ever get news in your e-mail that you just want to share?

For me, it's kind of rare that I get news to share that is positive.  So, I decided that it was important to also bring over to this site, happy news, empowering news; news that fits well into the Obama won't choke on the word Union diary on the rec list.  And what better way to do that, than to show the faces of those of the building industry.  And even better, those who graduated yesterday from the 4th pre-apprenticeship program in the DC.

more after the flip

I have been watching the American Axle strike and now I'm also following the strikes at CBS (Aramark run Cafeteria) and the LOCK OUT in Van Wert, Ohio.

So, what do these things have in common?  I think it's money.  Not necessarily the cost of labor or the cost of benefits.  It's about taxes, trade, environmental standards, in short, it's about the American Way.

More on the flip...

American Axle and the UAW are back to talking, 7 weeks after the strike began, and according to the AP, it might mean an end is finally in sight:

The United Auto Workers has given American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. a proposal dealing with economic issues, a local union official said Wednesday as formal negotiations aimed at ending a six-week strike resumed.

A union leader could not give details of the proposal.

"We're just waiting for a response," said Adrian King, who leads a local at the company's Detroit manufacturing complex and sits on the bargaining committee.

More?

Yesterday, on my blog (Women, Unions and Our Stories), I wrote about Dick Dauch and outrageous executive pay.

As the economy continues to slow, the housing crises continues to develop, home prices continue to fall, gas prices continue to go up, and the cost for just about everything in our lives rises from rice to wheat to a glass of milk...well it's on this vein that Warren Brown at the Washington Posttook the owner, Dick E Dauch, and his top executives, to task for, well, being complete asses...

more on the flip

What Are you Doing on May 1st?

I’m planning to support the International Longshore and Warehouse Union by not working the day shift on May 1st.  

Why?

To protest the Iraq War