Considering the prospect of losing half his earnings, paired with rising prices for gas and food, Doug Elliott is scared that he’ll lose his house.
On March 8th. The Detroit Free Press did an article about the Elliot family who are trying to make ends meet, while husband and father Doug is on strike. From 3-08-08
Doug Elliott, 49, a striking American Axle worker, plays with his dogs Ceasar, left, and Tiny, as his wife Pattie, 49, prepares dinner at their home in Warren on Monday. The Elliotts are bracing for the strike’s financial crunch.
Brandon Elliott, 11, joins his dad Doug Elliott, on the picket line March 1 outside of an American Axle & Manufacturing plant in Detroit.
Doug Elliott, 49, an American Axle & Manufacturing worker, eats dinner with his family, Pattie, 49, left, Brandon, 11, and Bryce, 14, at his home in Warren on Monday. Elliott is among 3,650 workers who went on strike early Feb. 26.
Contract negotiations
The UAW and American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. expect to continue negotiations today on a contract that would affect 3,650 American Axle workers, who went on strike early Feb. 26.
The strike has forced General Motors Corp. to shut down seven assembly plants. GM plans to shut down three more plants and cut production at 19 plants Monday, bringing the total number of plants impacted by the strike to 29.
You should check out the entire article at The Detroit Free Press entitled:
Family learns to make do with less
I work for one of the general motors plants that is currently layed off from their jobs. I dont frankly think american axel has any clue what the cost to the auto industry they are having not only are we fighting gas cost, but were fighting with compition from other companies like toyota or honda, but now were fighting with workers with in our own system. We have all long since taken our pay cuts to help us compete in the market. The days of 30 bucks an hour have been long gone and general motors is no longer capable of competeing and giving us a retirement and free insurance we are responsible for that ourselves. I honestly am greatful for the job. And on average despite the cut we are payed better than most. I think at this point they are cutting their noises of despite their face. I think general mostors is tapping into other suppliers for some of the parts they are needing. And eventually they will also shorten the amount of people they will need to reduce a shift of people at most of their plants including ours and estimate is 350 to 400 people from our plant alone will loose there jobs permanently. That is a very high price to pay for those who have made the scrafice with pay cuts already. I’d personally like to keep my job. I can tell you right now that if this dosent end soon the cost might be to grave for auto industry.
Comment by Jay — May 17, 2008 @ 4:08 pm