American Axle Manufacturing workers went on strike shotly after 12:01 am this Tuesday.
Boy, they seem happy to be out of the shop. For a second there, I thought maybe my Grandpa came back to life; he was pretty cool. The other rpossibility being; the company caved to their contractual demands. Alas, nope, just another unhappy, smiling, cheering labor union. I support the rights of unions to exist. Sometimes the powers of supply and demand aren’t enough in regard to fair treatement of laborers. Sometimes company executives forget their’s a cook in the kitchen. Labor unions remind them their bread and butter doesn’t make itself. In this case, from what I’ve read, the union contract has expired and the company wants to reduce wages significantly. The entire setup seems strange to me. They are part of the same entity, yet they separate themselves as if they are contractors, hence their contracts. Why aren’t manufacturing companies like the rest of corporate America: underappreciated, underpaid, and riddled with turover. At least in corporate America you know you won’t make less next year.
I think most of these workers are overpaid. For the most part, these are not overly technical positions. That is where the inherrent need for a union arrises, because they are generally easily replaced. The contract has expired and the compaany is not as successful as it would like to be. We are talking many million dollars behind where they want to be. Doesn’t Michigan have enough scabs to replace all these people? If they are worth as much as they think they are, wouldn’t another manufacturer hire them for their current wage? I would have an issue if my pay was all of the sudden cut by forty percent, but they knew the nature of their contactual position, and this is America. We are clinging to the fibers of capitalism, and in doing so, companies need to adjust wages to the actual market value. Sorry UAW, you deserve a pay cut, because there are others that would do you job as well for less. I am still sympathetic to you plight, but thus is the nature of capitalism, and its necessary to preserve other liberties. My regards to you and your families if times get tight.
