Laid off local workers await outcome of American Axle strike

by Leanne Tokars (ltokars@wsbt.com)

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Laid off local workers await outcome of American Axle strike

The American Axle strike led Nyloncraft in Mishawaka, which supplies parts to GM, to lay off 80 employees and reduce the hours of others. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 6, 2008 at 6:47 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 6, 2008 at 7:01 PM EST

MISHAWAKA — More local workers are off the job because of the American Axle strike. Nyloncraft in Mishawaka laid off 80 employees late Wednesday afternoon. Earlier this week, the H2 plant laid off nearly 400 workers because of the strike.

It’s day 10 of the strike outside American Axle in Three Rivers.

“We’re still pretty pumped up,” said striker Dave Owens. “It’s all about fair wages and dignity for our families and their demands are just too great.”

Union workers say they won’t back down and they won’t give in.

“Oh no, we’re not giving up,” said striker Clint Workman. “We’re going to hang in there and hopefully we’ll come out with a good contract.”

There is hope that renewed talks between the union and American Axle will make that happen.

“No fun to be out here in March, so hopefully the sides will get closer together and want to sit down once again,” Owens said.

But it’s not just those workers hoping for an end.

“GM is about 50 percent of our sales, a little less, so it certainly hits home,” said Jim Deren of Nyloncraft, Inc.

Nyloncraft in Mishawaka is the strike’s latest victim. They supply parts for General Motors.

But because the strike has forced GM to shut down several plants, Nyloncraft is having to cut back — laying off 80 employees in the department that manufactures GM parts, and reducing everyone else’s work week to just four days.

“It certainly hurts,” Deren said. “We’re certainly concerned for the people that it hurts, the employees and throughout the community.”

Because — just like at the H2 plant in Mishawaka, also feeling the heat from this strike — all they can do is wait. And that could take days or months.

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