With American Axle depending heavily on General Motors for its sales volume, what are your thoughts on the recent national two-day strike called by the UAW against GM?
I think UAW President Ron Gettelfinger made a good call on that. My father and grandfather worked at GM. They had to strike for jobs for the future of workers and retirees. It had to be done. The workers are better off for it, and I believe health care coverage is more secure. Just like the whole Delphi deal, the big shots keep getting richer and the middle class is always getting squeezed. The middle class is getting tired of it.
Reforming the nation’s health care system is an issue the UAW cares deeply about. Why do you think health care reform is important?
I have three kids and a wife, and when I see the cost of health care for all of us it’s staggering. I hope they can control the costs. Other countries have national health care and their economies are doing fine. It’s wrong that health care providers charge so much. Employers need help with these costs, and it seems like Washington doesn’t care at all.
The UAW is pushing for fair trade policies when it comes to newly negotiated international free trade agreements. How should workers and the environment be protected in trade agreements?
We want good standards overseas because strong environmental standards and good benefits in other countries help keep environmental and worker standards high here in the United States. Lower wages in other countries means lower wages for all of us.
