After 10 Days Holding the Line, UAW Local 2093 Members Lock In $30 by 2030 with Tentative Agreement at American Axle
After walking out on strike at midnight on June 1, UAW Local 2093 members at American Axle/Dauch Corporation have reached a tentative agreement with the company that secures the workers’ topline demand of $30 per hour by 2030 – a more than 36% increase to the top wage rate over four years – among other historic gains in a record contract at the Tier 1 parts supplier to G.M.
“Tonight, after 10 days on strike, I am proud to announce that UAW Local 2093 has reached a tentative agreement at American Axle,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “And tonight, after 18 years of sacrifice, these workers are finally winning back a big chunk of what was taken from them.”
In 2008, workers at American Axle took major sacrifices to save the facility from closure during the Great Recession. Many long-time workers who were making as much as $29 an hour in 2008 saw their wages slashed to $14.50. Legacy UAW members hired before May 31, 2012 – including those who went from $29 per hour in 2008 to $14 – will see an immediate $8 per hour increase on ratification. Workers also achieved gains in other core demands with more paid days off and without any concessions on their current health care costs, something the company insisted at the table couldn’t be done.
“Not only did they take care of the legacy people that were here and made the tough decisions back in 2008 to keep the place open, they took care of the people working there today,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “They also took care of all the future generations that will come to work here in Three Rivers, Michigan, at American Axle.”
In the coming days, nearly 1,000 UAW Local 2093 members will fully review the tentative agreement before taking a vote on whether to ratify the deal.
“This contract will change lives in Three Rivers and across southwest Michigan,” said Josh Jager, UAW Local 2093 bargaining chair. “I am damn proud of this agreement, and I am damn proud to be a member of UAW Local 2093.”
Over the ten-day strike, UAW Local 2093 members attracted the interest and support of local community and political allies from across the state, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, State Senator Sean McCann, Three Rivers Mayor Angel Johnston, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for Michigan Attorney General Eli Savit, among others.
