Parts supplier American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings has asked a federal mediator to help broker a deal to end the a 48-day strike, but offer was rejected by the United Auto Workers union, the Detroit News reported Monday.
The company said in a statement that it had hoped that an “impartial third party at the bargaining table could assist both sides,” the paper reported. A company spokeswoman said the mediation request was made last week.
The strike, which began Feb. 26, has fully or partially shut down 30 General Motors Corp. plants, American Axle’s largest customer. More than 40,000 workers have been laid off as a result, the News reported.
The union has proposed cutting wages and benefits to between $40 and $60 an hour, down from the current $73.48 per hour, the paper said.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement that the addition of a mediator would “add little to the process,” the paper reported.
American Axle said it needs a wage and benefit package of between $20 and $30 an hour to be competitive with other unionized U.S. suppliers, such as Dana Corp. and Delphi Corp., which both won wage concessions while in bankruptcy, the News said.
