A strike at American Axle in the U.S. is nearly 2 months old now and there is no good news from the picket line. That strike has led to layoffs at several automotive parts suppliers both in Canada and the States, including Tenneco automotive (formerly Monroe) in Owen Sound. Human Resources Manager Mark Beaul tells Bayshore Broadcasting news he would like to talk with us, but his instructions are to direct all calls to Corporate communications at Tenneco in the U.S. Beaul couldn’t tell us whether there were any of the 430 workers at the plant are actually on the job in Owen Sound this week, or what was coming up next week. Calls to 2 people are Tenneco’s Head office have not been returned. Layoffs hit Tenneco shortly after the American Axle workers went on strike, since General Motors couldn’t use their products. G.M. had to shutdown production at 29 plants in North America …. and many remain off still. Bargaining has gone nowhere with the UAW rejecting the latest offer from American Axle… and the union planning a big rally for today. American Axle claims its offers included wages that are higher than the “all-in” wage and benefit packages of about $30 an hour granted by the UAW at companies with which American Axle competes.
