Local American Axle workers on strike over wages

THREE RIVERS, Mich. -- Nearly one thousand workers in Southwest Michigan are now on strike; they are among thousands in the same company.

The United Autoworkers union walked off the job at American Axle & Manufacturing in Three Rivers. The company is a major supplier of General Motors. Striking employees say they are fighting for at least $30 an hour after taking a major cut during the 2008 recession. They say that, since then, they have seen what they call "stagnant wages."

The current top wage is said to be $22 an hour, which is $4 higher than it was in 2008.

"We just want a fair contract," says machine operator Connie Jean Arnsman. "So far they put three proposals through, and we're on proposal three, and none of them are satisfactory at all. The raises are just very minimal. For the last few years, we've made nothing but like 10 cent raises, and we've taken concessions in the last two contracts that I've been here since 2013 so time's up. Tick tock, we want a fair contract."

ABC57 is told that there are at least six sites were American Axle workers are striking. The company has not commented.