Contract discussions between Dauch Corp and the United Auto Workers union have remained at a standstill since workers began striking at the Michigan facility on Sunday, a union representative confirmed Tuesday.
Josh Jager, who serves as bargaining chairman for Local 2093 and has worked at the company for 24 years, told reporters that Dauch Corp has not reached out to restart contract talks. The UAW local represents approximately 1,000 employees at the facility and submitted their contract demands to management Sunday evening.
“They are on the clock, they are under the gun but their finger is not on the trigger yet,” Jager said.
The company, previously called American Axle, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
Workers have maintained picket lines outside the Three Rivers, Michigan axle manufacturing plant since Monday morning. The facility plays a crucial role in supporting General Motors’ lucrative pickup truck operations.
According to Jager, the majority of axles produced at the Three Rivers location are shipped to GM’s heavy-duty truck assembly plant in Flint, Michigan.
Multiple sources, including Jager, estimate that GM maintains roughly two weeks’ worth of axle inventory to sustain production during the strike. Union officials report observing approximately 250 management employees entering the facility to maintain axle manufacturing operations.
A General Motors representative confirmed that truck production remained operational Tuesday.
The striking workers are seeking pay raises, improvements to work-life balance policies, and preservation of their current healthcare coverage.
Employees accepted pay cuts in 2008, and since that time, the highest hourly wage has risen by $4 to reach $22 per hour, Jager explained. The union is pushing for maximum wages exceeding $30 per hour.
