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Brothers and Sisters!!
Mon., May 5th, 2008, 8:30am
Support Our Union Sister on May 5th unfairly arrested at UAW Rally at American Axle
Please Come Out and Support Our Union Sister Ada Walker, Mon., May 5th, 2008, 8:30am at the 36th District Court, 421 Madison, Det., Mi. 48226
(Sister Walker was unfairly arrested and strong-armed while attempting to cross the street unfairly arrested in front of the American Axle Headquarters.)
Local 235, UAW
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Click Here for the MAY 2, 2008 Shifting Gears Newsletter - Update, in pdf format
UPDATE - Informational Picket at Poletown,
Fri., May 2nd, 5:15am-6am, 1:45pm-2:30pm
AAM Informational Picket at Poletown Went Well, Join us This Afternoon
All went well this morning at Poletown. The Shop Chair Frank Moultrie had attended our rally at the AAM Headquarters and put in his newsletter that we were coming.
People honked support as they went in, many taking our leaflet. One Committeeperson took a pile in with him.
Please join us this afternoon.
Meet at Local 235, Holbrook and Lumpkin at 1:30pm or 1:45pm at the Grand Blvd. entrance at the service drive of I-94 (off at Mt. Elliott Exit, go west past Chene to Grand Blvd., park across freeway at Dan & Vi’s Pizza. If you get lost call 313-215-7672.)
Wendy
Solidarity forever, for the union makes us strong!
Shifting Gears, Newsletter by and for the UAW/AAM Rank and File
labor donated
Click Here for the MAY 2, 2008 Shifting Gears - Leaflet for Poletown Workers, in pdf format
Click Here for the MAY 2, 2008 Shifting Gears - Leaflet for Poletown Workers, in rtf format
Solidarity
With UAW Poletown Workers Against GM Accepting Scab Parts
American Axle UAW workers want to thank you for the support UAW Poletown workers have given us since we went out on strike Feb, 26 in our struggle for a decent contract and against wage cuts and plant closings. We all hate the fact that the law forces workers to handle scab parts. GM should not be allowing these parts into the plant.
We stand here on public property for an informational picket line to highlight how wrong it is for cars to be made with stabilizer bars American Axle workers were making before the strike. We don’t know whether they are being made by AAM supervisors, by workers in Mexico, or by Dana, but they are our work! We called the National Labor Relations Board to inform them that we would be here today, and they informed us that our activity is perfectly legal. We are not asking you to stop work, but we do ask that if you handle stabilizer bars look for the upmost quality. Burrs on the bars affect vehicle performance. Grievances can be written. If this part is inferior, it can have serious consequences.
We also ask that you “work to rule”. This is also perfectly legal. You simply go strictly by the contract and don’t do management any favors. We all do things we do not necessarily have to do. We would appreciate you sending a message to GM management that they should not be allowing scab parts into the plant. You can do this by ceasing to engage in these small favors until not only is our strike settled, but we believe it will also help you in your fight for a decent local agreement!
GM seems to be rotating assembly plants to try to keep production going. Poletown is back to work this week after having been shut down by the AAM strike. Shutting down car production is very important for our strike, and you see from the newspapers that we have had an impact on both AAM and GM profits. We know that none of us will win decent contracts without backing up our demands with unified action. The CEO at American Axle has made more than $250 million in salary and perks over the last 14 years, yet he continues to demand wage cuts that if we agreed to them, would force us out of our homes and unable to educate our children.
We hope that you will continue to back us in every way you can! We are here today to thank you for your past support and to ask you to examine the stabilizer bars very carefully. It’s perfectly legal for you to join with us after you get off work today if you’d like when you are on your own time. Stop and talk with us and we’d be pleased to tell you how AAM has not moved off square one since day one!
Thanks so much for your support. We have received so much solidarity since we went out and pledge to have your back in your fight for a decent local contract!
SOLIDARITY FOREVER!
A Group of American Axle Strikers, Retirees from UAW L. 235, L. 262 and Supporters
For further information contact L. 235 at 313-871-1190, L. 262 at 313-871-1262
(written by Shifting Gears, Wthomp4490@aol.com, 313-892-7974)
Labor donated
Click Here for the APRIL 30, 2008 Shifting Gears Newsletter - Update, in pdf format
Click Here for the APRIL 30, 2008 Shifting Gears Newsletter - Update, in doc format
Informational Picket at Poletown,
Fri., May 2nd, 5:15am-6am, 1:45pm-2:30pm
GM seems to be rotating assembly plants to try to keep production going. Can something be done about this? Yes, let’s set up information picket lines at plants that are forced to run with scab parts and hand out a leaflet encouraging our fellow workers to work to rule and check for the upmost quality. This is perfectly legal because we are not asking them to shut down. We are just giving out information. We will call the NLRB office and inform them we will be distributing an informational leaflet getting their OK.
Poletown is back to work this week after having been shut down by the AAM strike. Besides asking for support for the AAM strike, we can also give them support for their struggle since they do not yet have a local agreement!
Let's go to Poletown on Fri., May 2nd, 5:15am-6am, 1:45pm-2:30pm.
Meet us to car pool at Local 235 at 5 am (and 1:30pm) or
Meet us at the Poletown east gate on the I-94 service drive by the overpass west of Mt. Elliott (park at the Dan & Vi store south of I-94 and cross at overpass).
Check with L. 235 on May 1st to see if Poletown has gone down due to another GM local strike.
Solidarity forever, for the union makes us strong!
Shifting Gears, Newsletter by and for the UAW/AAM Rank and File
labor donated
Click Here for the APRIL 29, 2008 Shifting Gears Newsletter, in pdf format
Click Here for the APRIL 29, 2008 Shifting Gears Newsletter, in doc format
Thanks to everyone who helped spread the word for the Local 235 Rally at the AAM Headquarters Thurs., April 24th. It was fantastic! We used the stockholder's meeting to publicize our right to decent wages and benefits. And it happened BECAUSE at the UAW Local 235 union meeting we passed a motion to organize the march and rally.
One reporter said the rally had “an old-fashioned feel to it." That means when the union was stronger than it is now -- well UAW strikers are reviving that tradition today!
It was great to see strikers and their family members turn out. Region 1 called the other locals in the region and encouraged them to come out, and they did, including Region 1 Director Joe Peters. UAW members from other regions and community supporters were there. Our rally was disciplined even when provoked by one police officer who manhandled and unfairly arrested one of our members.
The press is still not stating our case enough. We DO NOT make more than Chrysler and Ford axle workers. We ARE NOT demanding special treatment, we are demanding PARITY. When you talk to the press, tell them Dick Dauch is lying when he says we are three times more expensive than our counterparts – Ford and Chrysler axle workers!
We need to keep up the "street heat."
1. Let's get the UAW to reschedule the Hart Plaza Rally (up the street from the GM building) to show GM we mean business! They can bring Dauch down to earth if they really want to! The International said the rally was “only postponed." So let's get a date and keep the momentum going! New York workers also need a rally in downtown Buffalo in front of the City Hall!
2. GM seems to be rotating assembly plants to try to keep production up. Poletown is back this week. Can something be done about this? Yes, let’s set up information picket lines and hand out a leaflet encouraging our fellow workers to work to rule and check for the upmost quality. This is perfectly legal because we are not asking them to shut down. We are just giving out information. We can also give them support because they do not yet have a local agreement!
Let's go to Poletown on Fri., May 2nd, 5:15am-6am, 1:45pm-2:30pm. Meet us to car pool at Local 235 at 5 am (and 1:30pm) or meet us at the east gate on the I-94 service drive by the overpass west of Mt. Elliott (park at the Dan & Vi store south of I-94 and cross at overpass). We will call the NLRB office and inform them we will be distributing an informational leaflet (we are not stopping Local 22 members from going into work or impeding production.) Check with L. 235 on May 1st to see if Poletown has gone down due to a GM local strike.
Three Rivers strikers should also set up an informational picket at the Fort Wayne Plant which has been getting axles from Mexico.
Solidarity forever, for the union makes us strong!
Shifting Gears, Newsletter by and for the UAW/AAM Rank and File
Wthomp4490@aol.com, 313-892-7974,american-axle@googlegroups.com
labor donated
Thursday, April 24th, 2008
Stockholders meeting at the AAM Headquarters at Holbrook and I-75.
We will be there on the inside and outside.
Join us at 1:00 pm!
SHOW UP AT THE AAM HQ, APRIL 24.
SOLIDARITY WILL NOT BE CANCELED.
The UAW International cancelled the "RALLY @ HART PLAZA" on short notice
but they can't cancel
RANK & FILE SOLIDARITY at the AAM HQ
COME TO AAM WORLD HEADQUARTERS AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
FOR A NO CONCESSION CONTRACT
CORPORATE SLUM LORDS WANT TO CONDEMN WORKING PEOPLE TO A LIFE OF
POVERTY. They take money out of our communities but they don't want to
put any money back in. Wage cuts and tax breaks do not equal more
investment. Corporate slum lords are destroying America.
WE ARE ALL UNDER ATTACK.
IF STRIKERS AT AMERICAN AXLE AND ALLIANCE INTERIORS WIN,
WE ALL WIN.
IF STRIKERS LOSE, WE ALL LOSE.
For more information contact Wendy Thompson wthomp4490@aol.com
or call 313 215 7672 or 313 892 7974
LABOR DONATED
The UAW International can cancel the "RALLY @ HART PLAZA" on short notice
but they can't cancel
RANK & FILE SOLIDARITY on the PICKET LINE
COME TO THE PICKET LINES AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
FOR A NO CONCESSION CONTRACT
CORPORATE SLUM LORDS WANT TO CONDEMN WORKING PEOPLE TO A LIFE OF
POVERTY. They take money out of our communities but they don't want to
put any money back in. Wage cuts and tax breaks do not equal more
investment. Corporate slum lords are destroying America.
WE ARE ALL UNDER ATTACK.
IF STRIKERS AT AMERICAN AXLE AND ALLIANCE INTERIORS WIN,
WE ALL WIN.
IF STRIKERS LOSE, WE ALL LOSE.
SHOW UP AT THE PICKET LINE NEAREST YOU THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 18.
SOLIDARITY WILL NOT BE CANCELED.
UAW Local 262, 8490 St. Aubin, Hamtramck, MI 48212
UAW Local 235, 2140 Hobrook, Hamtramck, MI 48212 FRIDAY April 18, 2008 11:30am
UAW Local 846, Tonawanda St., Buffalo, NY 14207
UAW Local 2093, 15802 Hoffman, Three Rivers, MI 49093 THURSDAY April 17, 2008 Noon to 2PM
and don't forget
UAW Local 724, ALLIANCE INTERIORS,
4521 W. Mt. Hope Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917
For more information contact Wendy Thompson wthomp4490@aol.com
or call 313 215 7672 or 313 892 7974
LABOR DONATED
American Axle Strike Rally Info
SEP / ISEE - AAM Meeting Info
AAM Worker Strikers News Archive
