This is from the news in Detroit papers.

AW President Ron Gettelfinger said Saturday he thought the union was close to a contract deal to end a strike against American Axle until the auto parts supplier offered a proposal that includes closing three plants.

Gettelfinger told WWJ-AM (950) in Detroit that the latest proposal came as a surprise Friday. He said it included closing a facility in Cheektowaga, N.Y., in addition to two other closures that previously had been discussed.

“I think it definitely made it worse, because now we’re facing another closure,” Gettelfinger said.

He said the union planned to remain at the bargaining table through the weekend, but said, “I don’t know where we’re at because the company changes their position every time we turn around.”

American Axle spokeswoman Renee Rogers told the Associated Press that she could not comment on specifics of a proposal. She said talks continued Saturday and the company continues to seek a U.S. market-competitive labor agreement.

“We have consistently offered proposals significantly higher than the agreement that our competitors have, because we want to end this,” Rogers said. “And they have been consistently turned down by the UAW.”

Detroit-based American Axle is a small company that gets 80% of business from GM, its former parent. It makes axles, driveshafts and stabilizer bars for pickups, such as the Chevrolet Silverado — GM’s top-selling vehicle.

Many of its U.S. competitors won deals from the UAW to pay newly hired workers about $14 per hour. But American Axle workers say they won’t take that big of a pay cut from a company that made $37 million last year.

The Union is showing the cajones to stand by their position. The workers and their livelihood has always got be the prime negotiating position. We wish you, brothers and sisters, all success.