Strike at GM axle supplier continues

DETROIT, (Reuters) – A strike at a major supplier for General Motors’ trucks entered its second week ​on Monday with the United Auto Workers and Dauch ‌Corp still unable to reach a deal, according to a local union official.

“Unfortunately, we just walked away from the table. The ​company is trying to play games with words and ​not providing anything productive,” Josh Jager, bargaining chairman ⁠for Local 2093, said in a Monday afternoon statement, ​adding the union is working on another proposal to give ​back to the company.

“We’re still making progress,” he said.

Local 2093 represents about 1,000 union workers at the plant in Three Rivers, Michigan.

A spokesman ​for Dauch, formerly known as American Axle, said the ​company remains “in close communication with our customers regarding the work stoppage.”

“We ‌continue ⁠to have ongoing discussions with the union in hopes of promptly reaching a mutually beneficial and market-competitive contract,” he said.

The Dauch plant supplies axles and other components for GM’s ​full-size and midsize ​pickup trucks.

Last ⁠week, sources told Reuters that GM had about two weeks of axle supply to continue ​production.

A GM spokesman said Monday the company ​has not ⁠had any plants affected by the strike.

Workers at the Dauch plant in 2008 agreed to accept lower wages. Since ⁠then, the ​top wage has increased by $4 ​to $22 per hour, Jager said, while the union wants top wages at $30 per ​hour by 2030.