DETROIT, April 15 (UCPA) — The strike by 3,600 workers at American Axle and Manufacturing in Michigan and New York is approaching a critical stage.
After seven weeks, the workers remain defiant and, in spite of questions about what is to come prepared to continue their struggle until they win a new contract with no concessions.
During this time, the management of American Axle, led by CEO Richard Dauch, has threatened alternately to bring in scabs and permanently close all of its facilities in order to intimidate workers into accepting a multi-tier wage agreement and slashed benefits.
At the same time, it appears that the AAM bosses have told their police to increase their acts of intimidation and harassment. The cops have been ticketing and towing the cars of strikers, and following strikers and supporters looking for reasons to pull them over.
None of these threats have worked with the rank and file of the United Auto Workers “union.” However, the same cannot be said for the pro-management officials — up to and including UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.

After initially going along with the demands of the membership, UAW officials are now sending signals to American Axle management of their willingness to force workers to accept the bosses’ plan.
At the beginning of April, Gettelfinger and the officials of “UAW, Inc.” revived their original plan to impose a multi-tier wage system and force workers to make “real sacrifices” on behalf of the Big Three and their suppliers.
However, they have made sure to keep their proposals for a sweetheart deal with American Axle management a secret, telling their local underlings the details only a week ago.
It appears now that Gettelfinger is looking to General Motors to step in and close the deal, as they did with Delphi two years ago. The UAW officials are looking to have GM help fund buyouts deals for AAM workers, and GM is resisting making any contribution.
Recently, the UAW announced threatened to call strikes at several GM plants as part of this “pressure” tactic. But it unlikely that Gettelfinger will follow through on the threat, apart from a few symbolic actions.
Such is also the likely fate of a scheduled rally in downtown Detroit on Apr. 18. Gettelfinger has already made it clear that he would prefer to cancel the rally (and further isolate the strike) rather than let it happen.

All of this underscores what we said in our last issue about the urgent need for workplace and strike committees.
“Paper ‘solidarity’ is not enough…. We as working people must build a real unity, both on and off the picket lines.” (“All Out to Support the American Axle Strike”)
The AAM managers and UAW officials have made their intentions clear: They will work together to break the back of the striking workers and force them to accept poverty wages and conditions, in exchange for higher profits and expanded perks for themselves.
The only way to stop this is for our brothers and sisters to take matters into their own hands and impose their own control of the strike, through elected workplace and strike committees, immediately!
“The organizing of strike committees … with the power and authority to maintain picket lines regardless of what Gettelfinger and the rest of the UAW ‘officials’ say, is the only means by which the workers can be assured their interests will be fought for.” (ibid.)
The longer this strike goes on, the more “political” it becomes. Increased police harassment and intimidation, and threats to use the courts and the NLRB to impose a settlement all point to how it is the state — the cops, courts and other groups of armed enforcers of the bosses’ “order” — that makes it possible for Dauch and others like him to stay in charge.

It is time for all workers to stand up and stand with those workers at American Axel.  It is time to tell the country, especially the government that without workers they have NOTHING!  It is time for ALL workers to demand their place at the table.