Support American Axle Workers
From SP Boston
[edit] Mobilize to Support American Axle Workers
- 9 March 2008
- Socialist Party Labor Commission
The Socialist Party USA stands in solidarity with the American Axle workers as they carry out a strike in defense of their wages and benefits. The American Axle Corporation has attempted to reduce wages to $14/hour from $23/hour and cut retiree pension benefits. An almost 40% wage decrease is intolerable under any circumstances, but in a time of financial surplus - when American Axle is able to pay a hefty dividend to its shareholders it is simply unconscionable. This episode is the most recent example of the overall offensive waged by corporations against manufacturing workers in America.
Though the corporate entity known as American Axle legally owns the means of producing these sought-after automobile components, it is the labor of the workers which creates the value. Without workers willing to labor there would be no production or dividends for Wall Street investors. The Socialist Party fully supports the American Axle workers' struggle to sustain their livelihoods. We see this conflict as another example of the manner in which CEO’s, Boards of Directors and Shareholders live off the backs of workers.
Thus far negotiations have provided no avenues toward meeting the workers demands. Instead, management has attempted to use collective bargaining as a means to squash the aspirations of these workers. American Axle executives, like their partners at General Motors, have shown little concern for the plight of their employees, viewing them as workhorses rather than human beings. Strike and direct action is the only language these corporate fat-cats can potentially understand.
We urge striking American Axle workers to decisively reject any contract that includes cuts to wages, cuts or cost-sharing of healthcare or a reduction of pensions. It is rank-and-file American Axle workers, not UAW officials who are making the financial sacrifices in this strike, and it is the rank-and-file workers through their strike committees who ultimately have the power to determine where the strike will lead. As the current period demonstrates, making more concessions will not stop the overall concessionary trend; it will only re-enforce it. The only way to stop the cycle is for the American automotive industry to once again feel the collective strength of the working class.
We further call on all workers, whether organized or not, to actively join our brothers and sisters at American Axle in their struggle. The attacks by American Axle on its workers are one part of an escalating crackdown on the living standards of working people by an obsolete system that puts private profit before human need. The particular struggle of the American Axle strikers affects every worker in every industry. A victory in this strike would be a victory for the whole working class. We must keep the momentum going!
The Socialist Party supports this strike and calls for a more comprehensive program centered on democratic social ownership through worker’s control of the automotive and other industries. Social ownership will allow for the development of vehicles for the use and human needs of workers and consumers, rather than the private profit of a tiny few. Further, we stand for the right of all manufacturing and service workers to retain the full value of their labor time and all that they produce. Our program also calls for publicly-funded universal healthcare for all, the elimination of capital flight, and mandatory union-recognition based on card-check. We support militant, united labor action including hot cargo agreements and boycotts, factory committees, secondary and sympathy strikes, sit-down strikes, general strikes, and ultimately the democratic control of the workplaces. We encourage all UAW workers who agree with these demands to join us today! More generally, we want to work with all those who are prepared to confront the corporate bullies that are oppressing us.
[edit] About the Socialist Party Labor Commission
The Labor Commission is one of the focal points of the Socialist Party's efforts to become rooted in grassroots struggles. Please support its work. To get involved, write to the Labor Commission Chair at dan.jakopovich (at) yahoo (dot) com.