American Axle strike causes layoff at Nyloncraft

By JIM MEENAN, Tribune Staff Report

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Union workers at the American Axle and Manufacturing plant in Three Rivers are in their second week of a strike

Union workers at the American Axle and Manufacturing plant in Three Rivers are in their second week of a strike. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 6, 2008 at 11:49 AM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 6, 2008 at 11:49 AM EDT

MISHAWKA –– The American Axle strike has claimed another local company as its victim.

Nyloncraft Inc., a thermoplastic injection molder located in Mishawaka, laid off 80 people Wednesday afternoon, James Maurer, Nyloncraft director of human resources, said Thursday.

The company’s 250 other employees also will be affected, with many being reduced to a four-day work week.

"It affects everybody," Maurer said. "Salaried folks like myself will share the pain."

The current UAW strike at American Axle has caused several GM plants that receive parts from Nyloncraft to shut down, resulting in the Nyloncraft layoff.

"It’s a layoff strictly caused by the strike at American Axle," Maurer said.

The UAW and American Axle resumed negotiations on a contract Thursday.

The strike caused the H2 Hummer plant in Mishawaka to lay off nearly 400 workers Monday.

If and when the strike is settled, Maurer estimated it could take as long as a week before Nyloncraft could call its 80 people back to work.

The company is one of the larger manufacturers in Mishawaka, employing 330 people when at full capacity.

It supplies parts for the light truck and SUV market to General Motors.

Nyloncraft’s production plant in Jonesville, Mich., is not affected, Maurer said.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 8:53 AM Right to Strike wrote ...

Let's remember that they have a Right to Strike. If you loosers aren't making as much, it's your fault. How can you blame anyone for wanting to do better? I did the same thing I worked in South Bend for 17 years, the plant closed, and we were all out of jobs. Only because we wanted more mmoney.

Saturday, Apr 12 at 10:10 AM Mitsugirl1996 wrote ...

Tighten up your belts and get back to work. Im laid off because of this strike!

Friday, Mar 21 at 12:41 PM HEY LINDA wrote ...

Well let me see I have a decision to make give back a little money and still be overpaid or I can fight for more and complany moves to mexico and I have no money. If they move to Mexico I will have to learn spanish to stay emoployed, but wait theres another problem im AMERICAN. Oh so the problem is?????

Friday, Mar 14 at 12:36 PM frank,235 wrote ...

last contract we froze our wages,and shared helped the company with copays,the reward was anew plant in mexico that took away two shifts from us,now we are not asking for nothing but to keep our wages, and that seems hard for some people to grasp,the upper management,got their raises,the CEO got richer,all we are asking is to keep our decent wages.

Thursday, Mar 13 at 9:13 PM RM Laid off Teamster wrote ...

I'm currently laid off because of the strike.We have a contract coming up next year and I'd hate to have our company say that they want us to cut our pay in half.It's not right to give people good money and then years down the road take it away.When are the CEO's going to take a pay cut?I think a 200 million dollar pay check is a bit much.I ,for one support the UAW.

Friday, Mar 7 at 10:52 PM Frank wrote ...

Linda How come you aren't in the NFL or NBA? Cause it's hard and union attitudes don't work in sports.

Friday, Mar 7 at 10:47 PM Frank wrote ...

HEY "hangin' in there" $65 an hour is what the company pays for each hour a person works. The figure is not a fantasy made up by corporate. The reason you have to make a point of this is because you are one of those greedy union factory grunts that cause these problems for the the rest of us. Reducing the actual dollar per hour rate reduces the cost per employee $65 to $55 in this case. Do the math and stop complaining we all know your not taking home $65 an hour Einstein.

Friday, Mar 7 at 8:08 PM Proud Non Union Guy wrote ...

Let's do some math and figure who would you hire to do the job?? I'd take 23/hr which equals $47,840 annual pay (40hrs x 52 weeks). And if you took 65/hr guy, he'd cost $135,200 to keep annually! Now, I make less than 23/hr, got 2 vehicles, house paid for, my son, and our "toys/hobbies". Granted I can't really buy that 60" plasma TV in a heart beat, but I can save for it or invest my money in stocks. I got enough to spend! Get real people, you can live nicely at 20 bucks hourly, I did for less!

Friday, Mar 7 at 3:01 PM Heretostay wrote ...

$60.00 an hour doesn't sound like much money. I hope they hold out for more. They deserve it!!!

Friday, Mar 7 at 2:41 PM hangin in there wrote ...

People need to wake up and actually think about it 65 hour is a corperate number averaged out over everything throught out the company our hourly rate what shows on the pay stub is'nt even close to that!!!

Friday, Mar 7 at 2:16 PM Frank wrote ...

Hey AAM UAW employees you just put 25,000 of your brothers and sisters on unemployment, they took the same UAW deal. I'm glad I don't have a bother or sister like you. I thought the "it's all about me" decade was over. Settle quick or you WILL get yours.

Friday, Mar 7 at 11:59 AM joe wrote ...

Working and getting paid are almost playing a game. The more you work, the more you get paid. Even thou you got paid higher than the average joe, doesn't mean you should hurt everyone down the street. We all need to work together all as one instead of just myself. What you do now may hurt someone('s) down the line later. All it takes is just one to upset the balance of the working man and woman. Think about it. It could be you being laid off.

Friday, Mar 7 at 11:06 AM This is crazy wrote ...

This is a negotiation year for Police officers in South Bend. How about they go on strike and demand $60 an hour.Better yet how about if they only ask for the $30 an hour that the automakers makers want to pay. I bet everyone feels differently then. The FOP is a union. They put there lives on the line for $20 an hour. Hard to feel sorry for someone making $60 an hour! Most CEO don't make that much money. I do not believe in taking money away, but new employees should not making anywhere near tha

Friday, Mar 7 at 9:44 AM Bill wrote ...

In this case, what you buy and drive tells who you support. (PERIOD)

Friday, Mar 7 at 9:42 AM Rick wrote ...

One queston to those workers, do you drive a Toyota? I drive by the Hummer plant every day and see a lot of non GM vehicles in the parking lot. Looks like you get what is comming to you to me!

Friday, Mar 7 at 9:39 AM Bill wrote ...

"American Axle manufacturing workers can make up to $65 an hour in wages and benefits, on par with assembly workers at GM, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler. The company wants to cut that to $20 to $30 an hour, which would be similar to agreements reached between the UAW and nonassembly workers at the Detroit Three as well as other auto suppliers such as Dana Corp. and Delphi Corp." Are you kidding me, $65 an hour w/ bennies? With some research in the on the ara jobs, the average is more like $26.

Friday, Mar 7 at 7:42 AM Linda wrote ...

Just curious? Who on this board is an expert on how much money a person should earn to survive? These are everyday hard working people who the company is trying to take back what they were given. I ask this, why do football players, basketball players, baseball players, actors etc etc. make the millions they make for a short term contract. Is that right? Life isn't always fair but I wouldn't accept less money than I was promised and most of you wouldn't either. Kudos to all of you strikers.

Friday, Mar 7 at 2:27 AM UAW worker wrote ...

fight for your rights!!!! I am behind you guys 110%. hang in there, dont give in !!!!

Thursday, Mar 6 at 8:58 PM Ed wrote ...

Poor babies only $65 an hour, what a joke; you and your union are killing the state of Michigan and this country. This is a prime example of why after 15 years of buying/trading 2 new American Made cars every year came to a stop 14 years ago as we can no longer afford your product. And now YOU are the cause of countless people that can't afford to be out of work, are out of work. You and the UAW make me sick.

Thursday, Mar 6 at 8:44 PM C.A.W. wrote ...

We support our U.A.W. brothers & sisters %100. I am laid off due to the strike. Power to the people. This show of solidarity is paramount for setting the stages in years to come. My heart is with the Axle workers! Without Unions, the middle class will be wiped out. Unions began back in history because of unfair employee practices. Imagine how much more American axle would take if you were non-Union?

Thursday, Mar 6 at 7:48 PM axle_employee wrote ...

If when i started i was told 18 dollars would be it then that would be it. for 13 years i have been told 30 years and out and that you will get a retirement payment so over the course of those years your bills,house,car,and every other part of your life reflect the wages that you earn so to one day have someone tell you that today you will make half your wages and pay for your medical premiums without some kind of buy down to offset those costs union or not you would not be happy with it

Thursday, Mar 6 at 6:59 PM Non-Union worker wrote ...

I'm grateful that I still have my job for 29 years with same die caster. I'm grateful I get a check everytime it's due me. I'm proud to be involved with creating parts for automotive, medical, communications industry in USA. I got my vacation time, insurance, pension and all the goodies WITHOUT union dues. I make not make as much as you with a union, but I'm happy with my employeer. Just to let the facts be known here, we voted OUT the union TWICE and sucessfully running while others close.

Thursday, Mar 6 at 6:55 PM HG wrote ...

Don't blame the striking workers for the layoffs? Give me a break - it's time for the auto workers to wise up. If you don't like what your job pays, get another one! Thank goodness GM is getting rid of the unions. They are one of the biggest reasons why American vehicle manufacturers can't stay competitive. Let the MARKET decide what wages are necessary, not the Unions.

Thursday, Mar 6 at 6:01 PM T wrote ...

There are people in this area alone that would love to work for anything close to what these workers make, or even to have a job at all. No one is forcing these workers to work for American Axle, they could be unemployed. There are thousands of people in this country that work for less than what they do and don't have perks like pension plans and would gladly switch with you. Just because you don't like what the company does or offers, doesn't give you the right to strike. Be grateful already!

Thursday, Mar 6 at 4:48 PM Canadian support for AAM wrote ...

I work for a GM supplier in Canada and my days are numbered like many others being laid off. I think people should make sure they gather all the facts before they make comments. The question I ask is if the workers concede and take the cutbacks the corporation is requesting, will that lower the price of an automobile? What kind of concessions are the executives going to take or does it all ride on the backs of the workers? Someone is enjoying that 37 million dollar profit! The rich get richer.

Thursday, Mar 6 at 3:59 PM uaw 624 brother wrote ...

If we dont fight now,what will they take later?We support all the brothers and sisters of the uaw!

Thursday, Mar 6 at 3:54 PM T wrote ...

People who strike obviously don't bother to consider the affect it has on others down the line. They don't seem to realize that now because they want a couple more bucks an hour, other people now don't have a job at all. With today's economy, one should be grateful for the job you have and not be so selfish. I think WSBT got it right when they say victims. It wasn't this company's or any of the others choice to strike, yet they are the ones now paying the consequenses. Hopefylly it ends soon.

Thursday, Mar 6 at 3:38 PM axle_employee wrote ...

The first 12 years our ceo pocketed over 200 million dollars in pay and stock and cut our jobs from 7000 people to around 3000 the money he made on us he has built plants across the globe and now wants to use them against us. Our ceo wants us to go back to the original amount of money we made 13 years ago does anyone think they could do that i dont think so I will walk the picket line until we get a fair deal because we the aam employees are the ones who made it what it is today not them

Thursday, Mar 6 at 3:36 PM hangin in there wrote ...

It's called corperate greed ,you can't blame the working man!!!

Thursday, Mar 6 at 3:17 PM educated UAW worker wrote ...

Laid off workerman, YOU make less than $200. a week?? Talk about uneducated

Thursday, Mar 6 at 2:24 PM hatch wrote ...

Know all of the facts before you judge any axle workers.

Thursday, Mar 6 at 1:50 PM laid off workin man wrote ...

I blame them for the greed of non skilled employees demanding to have a high pay job they are a supplier to GM not a GM employee. so get over it and get back to work or they will pack it up and move it to mexico. these guys dont care their strike fund pays them more than my wage and these ignorant people dont realizehow over paid they were.

Thursday, Mar 6 at 1:34 PM Xeno wrote ...

The strike has claimed a "Victim"!? Wow. Now that's fair and balanced reporting. This is interesting. I take it, then, that wsbt takes a clearly unambiguous stance against the war in Iraq. After all, the collateral damage happening there far out weighs 80 folks getting laid off. Oh yeah, that's happening far away, so it doesn't count. Journalism: The easy A major in college.

Thursday, Mar 6 at 1:09 PM workin man wrote ...

Let's remember one thing- do not blame the striking workers for the layoffs. The company, American axle, shares just as much blame. I'm tired of hearing local newscasters indirectly, an in some cases, directly blaming the layoffs on the striking workers.

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