Woe, Canada: USA's economic chill spreads north From USA Today At Maxtech Manufacturing, which produces precision parts for vehicles made by Detroit's Big Three automakers, sales fell 10% in 2007 and appear headed for at least that big a drop this year. The big hit from the U.S. slump is expected to fall on smaller Canadian auto parts makers, many of whom are almost wholly dependent upon the American market. "The U.S. slowdown is certainly going to have a major impact on the Canadian parts sector. There's a ton of parts companies in Ontario that are...

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American Axle workers hit the picket lines From WOODTV THREE RIVERS -- Workers at Auto parts supplier American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. are on strike after the company failed to reach a new contract agreement by a midnight Monday deadline. Union leaders say the company is not putting all its financial information forward as the company looks to cut costs. The company is looking to reduce the wage-and-benefit package from employees from a cost of $68 an hour to $20 or $30 per hour, a company spokeswoman said.

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Ford announcement set for next week From AZ Central.com Tata also denied press reports that it plans to sell the luxury sports car brand Jaguar shortly after the purchase, or that it wants to build Land Rover off-road vehicles in lower-cost India, Osborne said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. Talks with Tata concluded last week, and the union will seek a written document after some minor issues are ironed out with Ford, Osborne said. Ford, which lost $2.7 billion last year and $12.6 billion in 2006, has been looking to sell...

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US: Axle, how American workers are losing From communicatinglabourrights.wordpress.com North America from more than $70 an hour - which includes health, retiree and other fringe benefits - to something closer to $27 an hour for production workers, or $35 an hour including skilled trades workers, who typically are paid more. American Axle also has said it wants changes to work rules and job classifications to improve plant efficiency. (The Associated Press) Factory workers at American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. picketed in two states Tuesday after failing to reach a...

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American Axle, UAW labor talks near deadline From Conde Nast Portfolio Analysts have said the UAW's agreements with GM, Chrysler and Ford Motor Co provide a template for cost-cutting agreements at American Axle, which pays wages and benefits on par with those at the major automakers. American Axle was spun off from GM in 1994 when Chief Executive Dick Dauch bought five GM axle plants and its current wage structure still reflects terms the UAW had negotiated with the No. 1 U.S. automaker. Like other U.S. auto parts suppliers, American Axle has looked to expand...

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