DETROIT — The bitter labor stalemate between American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. and the UAW appears to be over, with significant progress taking place at the bargaining table.
A tentative contract agreement could be reached by this weekend, a source familiar with the discussions told Automotive News late Wednesday.
” They are very close,” the source said. ” They could reach an agreement by this weekend. Both sides have finally come to their senses.”
As with any protracted labor negotiation, there is no guarantee a deal can be reached, but this is the first sign of real progress in the dispute that has all but halted General Motors’ SUV production in the U.S.
DETROIT — General Motors said today it will spend $200 million to build an engine and components plant in Joinville City, Brazil.
Production will begin in the fourth quarter of 2009. Once operating, the plant will employ 500 workers and generate 1,300 indirect jobs, GM said in a statement.
“The decision to build a new engine plant in Brazil is essential to our ability to expand vehicle … story
David Barkholz and Robert Sherefkin Automotive News April 8, 2008 - 3:18 pm ET
General Motors is reopening two assembly plants this month with axles supplied from Mexico by American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc., sources have told Automotive News.
The 7-week-old UAW strike at five American Axle plants had shut GM’s light-truck plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., until the company this week resumed production there of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. GM also intends to restart production of its full-sized pickups in Oshawa, Ontario, starting the week of Monday, April 21.
American Axle is supplying the plants from its factory in Guanajuato, Mexico, the sources said.
It is the same plant that has supplied axles and other parts throughout the strike to GM’s Silao, Mexico, factory and an SUV plant in Arlington, Texas.
DETROIT (Reuters) — Top leaders of the UAW and American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. are to meet on Monday for the first time in months in what may be a positive development toward ending the union’s nearly six-week-old U.S. strike against the auto parts supplier.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and American Axle CEO Dick Dauch have not met since negotiations opened in December.
UAW STRIKE AT AMERICAN AXLE Automaker shifts axle supply priorities away from SUVs
David Barkholz and Robert Sherefkin Automotive News April 7, 2008 - 11:49 am ET
GM intends to close its Arlington, Texas, SUV plant after this week, while reopening two plants previously closed by the UAW strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc., said GM spokesman Dan Flores.
The pickup plants are in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Oshawa, Ontario. The plants make the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Fort Wayne reopened today with one shift. It adds another Monday, April 14. The Oshawa plant reopens April 21, with two shifts.
GM can afford to make the change because it has ample supplies of SUVs.
DETROIT — The UAW strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. that has halted light-truck production at General Motors soon may push the automaker to close its first car assembly plants.
GM could stop building the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 in Lordstown, Ohio, by April 4 because of a shortage of a brake part made by American Axle, according to an Associated Press report. … story Published: Mar 27 4:00 pm U.S. Eastern time [REG]
Robert Sherefkin and Philip Nussel Automotive News March 20, 2008 - 3:25 pm ET
DETROIT — Strike-bound American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. has moved some of its parts production for Chrysler LLC from the United States to its operations in Mexico.
” It was a way to protect us from being shut down after the strike began” Chrysler spokeswoman Michele Tinson said today.
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