Flint Could Feel Effects of New UAW Strike at Key GM Supplier

If you've been around Flint long enough, you know that when auto workers walk off the job, people here pay attention.

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Nearly 1,000 UAW members at American Axle in Three Rivers hit the picket line at midnight Monday after contract talks broke down. While the strike is happening on the other side of the state, there's a direct connection to Flint because American Axle produces components that end up in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, both built right here at Flint Assembly.

Why Flint Auto Workers Are Paying Attention to the Strike

The union says this fight goes back nearly two decades according to a report from ClickOnDetroit.com. During the Great Recession, workers agreed to major concessions to help keep the plant open, and some longtime employees reportedly saw their pay cut from around $29 an hour to just $14.50 an hour. Today, wages reportedly top out around $22 an hour, and workers say it's time to finally catch up.

Workers Say Sacrifices Never Recovered

UAW President Shawn Fain joined workers Sunday night and delivered a simple message to company leadership: "Time's up." Union leaders argue employees helped keep the company profitable through difficult times and deserve a bigger share of the success.

READ MORE: Flint Assembly Has Built 16 Million Trucks and Counting

The company, American Axle & Manufacturing, is a major supplier to General Motors, and the union points to billions in profits and executive compensation over the past decade as evidence that workers should see higher wages.

Could Flint Assembly Be Affected by the Strike?

For Flint residents, the big question is whether this strike eventually affects production at Flint Assembly. There's no indication of that right now, but whenever a supplier tied to Silverado and Sierra production faces a work stoppage, it's something local workers, suppliers, and the community will be watching closely.