American Axle strike‏

To: clnews@lists.clnews.org
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:22:26 -0400
From: rzwarich@gmail.com
Subject: CLNews: The America Axle Strike - Trying to See the Big Picture

Dianne Feeley recently published a 'report from the picket lines', concerning the American Axle (AAM) strike, to the Soldiers of Solidarity public forum. (SOS is a militant group of autoworkers; Ms. Feeley's report is copied in its entirety below). Gregg Shotwell, one of the principle founders of SOS, posted this reply, (copied in its entirety):

"Thanks, Diane. That's what we need to hear. More voices from the front lines. It's encouraging to hear that Amer Axe workers are "making that line in the sand a trench" as Jerry Tucker said. I am envious. I wish Delphi or GM UAW members had had a similar fortitude. The Con Caucus would love to cut a deal, but Dauch isn't giving them anything that they can show the members. Considering what the the CC did at GM, it must be a pretty ugly hand to play. We should give all the morale and phsical support we can. Somebody somewhere has to to show it can be done. If not here, where? sos shot "

Before we get carried away with emotionalized talk of 'making lines in the sand into trenches', perhaps we might give some thought to what would constitute a 'line in the sand', at this point, and what it would realistically take to make that 'line in the sand' into a 'trench'. To the best of my own very limited ability to understand the issues at stake in the AAM strike, it is certainly not clear that any distinct 'line in the sand' has been scratched, (let alone any line dug into a trench).

It is heartening to hear Ms. Feeley's report of high spirits on the AAM picket lines, but human spirit is rooted in emotion, and few things are more volatile than human emotions. High morale can change quickly, even suddenly, as the result of dramatic developments, or erode over time as the effects of a long strike take their toll. Ms. Feeley's reports 'from the line' that workers are projecting a 'long haul' attitude, but then she examples that by saying that there are expectations and talk of being out until "after Easter", which was less than two weeks away at the time she wrote, so her message is mixed, and therefore confusing. Two weeks does not a 'long haul' make. A 'long haul' must be measured in many months, even years perhaps, (on $200/week strike fund wages, with calls from bill collectors getting more frequent, and foreclosure notices in the mailboxes of an increasing number of strikers), if we are talking SERIOUSLY about "making a line in the sand into a trench" in Big Auto.

I haven't seen all that much discussion, until now, (with the recent speculations on the SOS forum about GM's incentive to use the strike to reduce its inventory, and the UAW using it to 'save face'), about what is really 'at stake' in this strike. I think that folks would do well to give some thought, and that we would greatly profit from serious discussion, as to what are the 'real issues' here, (if anyone's SERIOUS intention is to establish 'lines in the sand', or 'trenches', against Big Money's onslaught attack on the work force in Big Auto).

Before we can understand the issues at stake in this strike, we would have to try to understand the 'players' involved. I'm sure that many who might be reading this note have a much better understanding of many of these various 'players' than I do. Many who may read this can surely contribute comments more valuable than mine to identify the many various players on the field here, and the issues important to each one. (There are many 'players' on this field. Some are obvious. Some less so. Some are more important than others. and obviously, each has its own interests and issues). But just as a start, to get us on the same page, these are the more important 'players' that I am aware of in the AAM strike.

1) The current AAM workers. Immediately present, and 'on the line', on strike, with their families' security and welfare immediately at stake.

2) Future, and possible second tier, AAM workers. Not present as active 'players' to represent their self-interest.

3) GM workers, both first tier and second tier, who are now laid off, or will be laid off, due to the AAM strike.

4) Other workers in Big Auto, and all workers.

5) Gettlefinger and the UAW.

6) AAM

7) GM

8) Big Auto, as a whole. The other major auto companies, both foreign and domestic

9) Big Money as a whole. The amalgamated forces of Capital itself, and its amalgamated vested interests in the general onslaught on workers in Big Auto, (long regarded as the most powerfully organized work force in America).

10) Economic interests, particularly including small business owners, which might be severely affected by both the near term effects of the strike itself, and the long term effects of its outcome, in communities where struck and/or laid-off plants are located.

Here are my own perceptions, (possibly erroneous), of the interests of these various parties. I am hoping that others better informed than I am might contribute their own perceptions.

1) Current AAM workers. If a 'line in the sand' has been scratched, various reports leave me confused over what comprises that line. It remains unclear what even the specific objectives of striking workers are, (as distinct from the objectives of the UAW), let alone any objectives that might comprise a 'line in the sand'. A "decent contract" is the only objective that Ms. Feeley identifies in her report (see below). That hardly has the ring of militancy that is usually associated with militant terminology like "drawing a line in the sand", let alone the outright military metaphor of 'trench warfare' that Mr. Shotwell uses, (on behalf of Jerry Tucker, a principle figure in the Center for Labor Renewal). What would AAM workers consider to be a "decent contract"? Are they simply after a more lucrative buyout offer? Or do they project solidarity with future workers by completely opposing the buyout/two tier sellout strategy that was so successful with the Big Three work forces? (Now THAT might comprise a 'line in the sand'). Are they determined to resist any concessions at all? Again, if anything resembling a 'line in the sand' has been established, it has certainly not been projected or communicated to me, and I read the SOS list pretty thoroughly, including the many articles in the press sent to the list each day. Ms. Feeley's report (below) certainly does not define anything resembling a 'line in the sand'.

2) Future (possibly second tier) AAM workers. The Big Three were willing to invest many billions of dollars to pay off current workers to induce them to sell out future workers. Had Big Auto tried to cut current workers' wages in half, they might have faced a determined and militant work force. Instead they hit upon the so far successful strategy of using the 'optional buyout' to induce current workers to vote for contracts that cut the wages of future workers in half. With the 'by hook or crook' complicity of the UAW, (which used disgracefully and blatantly crooked tactics to stampede a 'yes' vote on the contracts), Big Auto was able to get current Big Auto workers to vote to accept these recent disastrous contracts that will transform a once good paying industry into a low-wage (or at least dramatically lower wage) industry, in exchange for a relatively lucrative lump sum severance package for current higher paid 'first tier' workers. (The buyouts are optional, but the companies will have many ways, by hook or crook, to 'encourage' workers to accept them).

3) GM workers laid off by the strike. It's unclear to me what wage protections remain in place for laid off GM workers. It's my understanding that they draw a substantial percentage of their regular wages in this situation. Is this correct? If so, what percentage and for how long? If that wage protection runs out at some point, then it is going to be very difficult to prevent them, especially second tier workers among them, from coming to resent the striking AAM workers after their own wages stop coming in. It's one thing to talk about 'solidarity', quite another to create or maintain it when the wolf comes knocking at workers' doors.

If those wage protection benefits do run out at some point, then that would provide a possible incentive for AAM, GM, and Big Auto to dig in for a long strike, if necessary, that will exhaust wage protections for GM workers laid off by the strike, figuring that they can turn those workers to bring pressure against the striking AAM workers to accept the same concessions that other auto industry workers acceded to. A long strike also puts pressure on the UAW, which does not like to make payouts from its lucratively invested strike fund.

If those wage protections will last longer than GM can bear, then they will serve as a powerful incentive for AAM to make concessions. But it is hard to believe that GM, in complicity with Big Auto in general, and also with Big Money as a whole, is going to allow a relatively small group of workers to have a victory over them after their own recent spectacular successes in securing dramatic wage and benefit concessions from hundreds of thousands of the most powerfully organized workers in America. Big Auto has, after all, many billions of dollars already invested in those victories. It seems highly possible that after already investing those $billions into the so far successful buyout strategy, they might now be prepared to absorb substantial further costs in their efforts to crush this relatively small group of workers to secure their own long term profitability, and to keep the momentum of falling wages going in their favor. If they allow a victory for AAM workers, it is going to serve as an example for others to follow, and it sure seems unlikely that they would allow that to happen.

4) Other workers in Big Auto, and all workers. We should try to remember that some 40%, (I don't know the exact figure), of Big Three autoworkers did not even bother to cast a vote as the recent disastrous contracts were voted in. This huge block of apathetic workers, (as well as most American workers in general), are generally very poorly informed about current events, even those that impact them directly. They have a generally very poor understanding of the forces that affect their lives. They distract themselves from things that cause them anxiety by not caring about those things. They direct their attention instead to pursuing their human biological imperatives, (their sex lives, their material possessions, etc). Many are simply 'narcotized' by substance use, TV, celebrity worship, etc. These apathetic workers are very important to workers trying to resist concessions because they are easy to manipulate, for those whose possess direct channels of communications with them, through propaganda. Media owners and company owners, (Big Money), as well as their unions, have direct lines of communication with them. (We don't).

Another huge block of Big Three workers are resigned to their buy-outs, and for that reason don't much care anymore about these continuing events. Those not already gone are making plans to be gone. And let's not forget the huge block of sold-out second tier workers slated to make $14. What does the AAM strike look like to them? Then of course, we have the great mass of American workers, 92.4% of whom (private sector) aren't even in a union. What do the millions upon millions of workers making $8-$9/hour think, or more important, feel, (those who are even aware of what is happening, those not in the throes of apathy), when they hear laments about wages 'slashed' from $28 to $14?

We should try to inhabit the perspective of each of these blocks of workers, to try to imagine how the AAM strike looks to them. If we seek to draw a 'line in the sand', and then dig it into a 'trench', which side of that trench will these various blocks of workers be on?

5) Gettlefinger and the UAW. I agree with those who point out the 'face saving' aspects of Gettlefinger's current posture. He is taking the opportunity to 'save face' by standing up in a 'heroic' posture now that pretends to defend this small group of workers. He is striking this dramatized pose only a matter of weeks after his disgraceful sellout of hundreds of thousands of Big Three workers. This posture is going to be especially effective among the great mass of the barely informed, (the public), who might have heard some talk of a UAW sellout of its own members, but are now seeing Gettlefinger's 'heroic' pose. The net effect of their resultant confusion will likely be, (among many), increased apathy. They will care even less than they did before about what happens to autoworkers, simply because trying to care means trying to figure out what doesn't make sense, and that takes too much effort. Gettlefinger's ability to 'save face' among autoworkers themselves, through his current posture, seems much more problematic to me. If I was an autoworker working the line, I think I would feel deeply resentful and angry to see him posing now after selling me out. If that kind of feeling is at all widespread among Delphi and Big Three workers, , that would comprise very fertile soil for anyone wishing now to sow organizing seeds of resistance, in opposition to the total hegemony of the UAW over US Big Auto's work force. Gettlefinger himself must surely realize that his posture presents both pros and cons to his position. It presents risks as well as rewards.

I think a possibly much more important factor in his position in 'leading' this strike is his desire to extend the 'partnership' relationship he established with Big Auto to AAM, and to all other companies whose workers he manages for them. It has been reported that a major issue to him is that he wants direct access into the AAM books. What this means is that he wants to establish a 'seat at the table' with AAM management. This is entirely in keeping with Andy Stern's (and CTW's, though the UAW is not part of it), 'corporate unionism' philosophy, which seeks to make unions an extension of the corporate management 'team'. To achieve the status as an 'equal partner', the privilege of direct access to 'the books' is a crucially defining 'must'. I personally believe that this is THE issue at stake here for Gettlefinger and the UAW. He is not depleting the UAW strike fund to win a few more buyout dollars for the AAM workers. He is protecting the turf he won from the Big Three.

6) AAM. As a satellite of GM and Big Auto, I think that AAM itself is a less important 'player' than the more powerful forces in Big Auto, and in Big Money in general.

7) GM. If anyone has drawn a 'line in the sand' to this point, it is GM and the other companies comprising Big Auto. They have established an ultimatum that has successfully convinced their complicit UAW 'partner' to cooperate. "Give us these concessions or else we're going to shut down all these plants and build new ones in Mexico", (or elsewhere 'offshore'), "where the workers work almost fer nothin' ", (apologies to B Dylan, who wrote about all this over forty years ago).

They're not bluffing, folks, (at least I don't think so). They're deadly serious. They'd prefer not to. But they sure as heck will if they have to. It is Big Auto, in cahoots with Big Money, that has drawn the only 'line in the sand' anywhere that I can see. They drew their sword and scratched that line at the feet of the 'gettlefingers' of Big Labor, and then turned their back and walked away confidently, as a matador does from the horns of a bull that he has reduced to bamboozled confusion. NONE of our Fat Cats of Big Labor has YET dared cross that line. The response of all these 'gettlefingers', all these Fat Cats of Big Labor, has been to line up obediently to help Big Money bring American workers 'into line', under docile control, at dramatically lowered wage levels, and dramatically reduced standard of living.

I have yet to hear ANYONE propose a plan or strategy for dealing with this 'line in the sand' that our OPPONENT, (not us), has scratched with his sword. Like the matador with the red cape and sword in his hand that has bamboozled the brave and powerful bull so completely, Big Money has reduced all our massive and courageous power into confused impotence. Our horns are yet sharp, our massive muscles yet powerful, but we stand transfixed by our confusion, no longer knowing what to do with the power we have forgotten how to use.

How is a relatively small group of workers winning a strike against a relatively small company, (even assuming there is any chance they can win), going to address the Big Money 'line in the sand'? Do we even think that if we went, (or had gone), so far as to seize the Big Three's factories in wildcat sit down strikes, to resist these recent draconian concessions, that Big Money would not have made good on its threat to shut those plants permanently, leaving us to sit in the dark inside them as they tool up in Mexico, and hire Mexican workers for $9 a day? Are we so foolish that we think they're bluffing? After they've already shipped so many jobs 'overseas', and imported tens of millions of foreign workers to do those jobs that they can't ship offshore, (or don't want to), do any possibly think that they are not deadly serious in their threat?

8) Big Auto as a whole. Surely we realize that after the industry wide victories won by Big Auto over its work force, these companies ALL have a deeply vested interest in not allowing a small group of workers to 'make a stand', and thereby set an example that would reverse Big Auto's resoundingly victorious momentum.

9) Big Money, as a whole. It is only my own speculation, but I have thought since I first became aware of what Delphi was doing to its workers, that Big Money as a whole was specifically targeting autoworkers to be crushed, as part of a conscious strategy to drive working people back into the relative poverty that we lived in before our grandparents fought and struggled and sacrificed for us. Autoworkers have long enjoyed the status, which the courage and sacrifices of their ancestors won for them, as 'the aristocracy of Labor'. Crushing the most powerful, to set a clear example for the rest, is an ancient strategy. I believe that these courageous AAM workers, braving the cutting cold of the north winds to walk the picket lines, are up against not merely AAM, (the least powerful of their adversaries), not merely their own union, (which has its OWN interests at heart, not theirs), not merely the unimaginably immense power and resources of the Big Three auto companies, but most formidably of all, they are facing the full force of the power of the amalgamated forces of Capital, of Big Money, itself. None of us are privy to the rarified management councils of Big Money, (which are held in great secrecy), so as I said, this is only my own idle speculation, but that is my belief.

10) Local community small business economic interests that will be affected by the outcome of this strike. These interests are currently essentially as powerless against the onslaught of Big Money as are workers. But this is an extremely important group to consider if we ever do undertake to organize a serious resistance to Big Money's well developed designs, (to actually draw a line in the sand, and then dig it into a trench).

Gregg Shotwell, a founder and recognized leader of the spirited Soldiers of Solidarity group, has secured his place in the history of the struggle of the American working class against Big Money. Mr. Shotwell is a superlative writer, and he has few peers when it comes to analyzing our vexing 'problem' from the perspective of a shop floor worker. He writes not only brilliantly, but with dirty fingernails. As a factory worker himself, with over thirty years on the line, he can capture in lucid words what so many workers instinctually feel and know, but cannot articulate. He brings our feelings, as workers, to a level of cognition and articulation as few can.

But he sometimes seems to confuse intentions with deeds, spirit with action, poetry with reality. Our Courage and Spirit alone does not a 'line in the sand' make. Bravely poetic and literary imagery does not a 'trench' make. When he writes of 'lines in the sand' and 'trenches' that do not exist, (except in his wishful imagination), he is deflecting us from an awareness of our imperative need to draw such lines and dig such trenches. Defining and brilliantly articulating 'the problem' we face is Mr. Shotwell's strong suit. Bringing cold sober Reason to bear, unaffected by our emotions and wishful delusions, to construct 'the solution' we so imperatively need to begin to forge, does not seem to be his forte. Conjuring a poetic image of a resistance that does not exist only interferes with our ability to build one.

It sure seems to me that only by ORGANIZING can we gain the ability, and credibility, to be scratching lines in the sand that Big Money will not laugh at. We can pose and posture all we want, scratching dramatically at the sand with our literary swords, but we'd best not turn our backs just yet to this immensely powerful bull that we face. He is currently breathing fire, feeling confident in his full power. He will NOT be impressed with our poetic writing, (no matter how eloquent). When he's finished indulging his amusement over our foolish delusions, he will gore us without hesitation or remorse.

If we want to draw a 'line in the sand' and then dig it into a 'trench' of resistance against the immense forces of Big Money, writing brilliant essays claiming that we already have is NOT going to get the job done. We HAVE to do the nitty-gritty, unglamorous, nuts-and bolts work of organizing. We have to lick the stamps, stuff the envelopes, and get them in the mail. To dig that trench we have to first do the prep work that will then allow us to organize work squads with shovels in their hands. A competent general knows that he must create an able leadership structure for his army, train his troops, win their confidence, and secure his lines of communications to assure their resupply, before he can even think of leading them into battle. For all Mr. Shotwell's well demonstrated brilliance, he sometimes does not seem to understand the true scope of what will be required to solve the problem about which he writes so eloquently. He seems to want to lead poorly organized, poorly armed, and poorly led troops into battle against Caesar's disciplined legions.

Anyone who thinks that 4,000 AAM workers have the ability to draw a credible 'line in the sand' in the face of the immense power amassed against them, is letting his (or her) Spirit and Courage overwhelm her (or his) Reason. We are not likely to make progress until we set our emotions aside and bring Reason to bear.

The path that leads to real victory, from our current weak position, is hard for many to imagine, but it is not really that hard to see once we set our emotions aside. But that, (setting aside our emotions in favor of Reason), is a tall order for any of us, as mere humans, to accomplish. We can set that goal as a collective discipline, however, and then hold one another to it in a Spirit of Solidarity, focused on a defined purpose. Once we manage to set aside our emotions in favor of bringing sober Reason to bear, (and mark my words, we WILL), our vision will clear, and we can begin to reclaim our inalienable democratic birthright, as The People, to manage our nation, including our economy, as we see fit, to affect our safety and happiness, to benefit our Common Good, (or, as the preamble to the US Constitution proclaims, "to promote the general welfare").

Poetic quotations and courageous intentions will NOT make a 'line in the sand', let alone a 'trench'. Only when we resolve to ORGANIZE ourselves in resistance to the power aligned against us, (which includes our own damn unions, as well as Big Money), will we gain the power to draw Mr. Shotwell's, (and Jerry Tucker's), 'line in the sand', and then dig it in to a trench.

Labor Solidarity United. From many, we must make one. It is an idea whose time has come. Think on it.

Zwarich

Dianne Feeley's Report to SOS:

Dear SOS,
No, I don't believe the strike is to "clear up" GM's inventory. In fact there is reason to believe that they have been forced to delay some special orders they were supposed to be starting.

What's important for folks on this list to understand is that AAM workers are DETERMINED to stay out until they get a decent contract. On the picket line you will hear people say that they feel they can get a contract after they stay out a long while, and they intend to vote down a tentative agreement not to their liking. It's important that we do everything we can to keep that resolve to draw the line here.

Folks are talking about being out until "after Easter." That's true at plants that previously voted for concessions but found they didn't save any jobs as well as for Gear & Axle, where we voted down the contract last time round. It's good to see unity because last time we were successfully pitted against each other.

Unions, community groups and individuals are joining the 24/7 picket line and bringing food to the strike kitchen. Last week we had 3 workers from Puebla, Mexico. They had been fired for asking to see a copy of the contract!! (They came with the head of the AFL Solidarity Center there.) All have been very well received!

Wendy Thompson and I went to Three Rivers last Friday and joined the picket lines there. They got 2 vans from dealerships in town and use them to take food and coffee to the lines. It was great to meet more of the work force at Three Rivers and hope to get to Buffalo to visit the picket lines there. In fact some of the workers who were forced to transfer from the Buffalo plant to Detroit, but still have families in Buffalo, are able to go back to Buffalo and do their picket duty there.

Since the strike began many of the days/evenings have been snowy or bitterly cold, with the wind blowing. Folks come appropriately dressed for picketing, and we have barrels up at all the sites.

So come and join us! Morale is good, but it is a real boost when we know folks are supporting us.

In solidarity,

dianne