According to local union officials, a major supplier of GM trucks entered its second week of strike action on Monday, as the United Auto Workers union and Dodge have yet to reach an agreement.
“Unfortunately, we just walked away from the negotiating table. The company tried to play word games and didn’t put forward any constructive proposals,” said Josh Jagger, bargaining chair for Local 2093, in a statement Monday afternoon, adding that the union is drafting another proposal in response to the company.
“We’re still making progress,” he said.
Local 2093 represents approximately 1,000 union workers at the Three Rivers, Michigan, plant.
A spokesperson for Dodge (formerly American Axle & Manufacturing) said the company “is in close communication with customers regarding this work stoppage.”
“We are in ongoing discussions with the union and hope to reach a mutually beneficial and market-competitive contract as soon as possible,” he said.
The Dodge plant supplies axles and other components for General Motors’ full-size and mid-size pickup trucks.
Last week, sources revealed that General Motors currently has only about two weeks’ worth of axle inventory left, which is sufficient to sustain production.
A General Motors spokesperson said Monday that none of the company’s plants have been affected by the strike so far.
Yag said workers at the Dodge plant agreed to lower wages in 2008. Since then, the top hourly wage has risen by $4 to $22, and the union hopes to raise the top hourly wage to $30 by 2030.
