Gabriel M Key  

So, despite the fact that I understand the workers' motivation to make sure their compensation for work is sufficient enough to provide a reasonable life, I really wonder if now is the best time to be holding a strike.  According to the May 2, 2008 Washington Post, GM credits this strike with affecting 30 plants and costing $800 million and between 100,000 and 130,000 vehicles in the first quarter.  Looking at the big picture: increasing gas prices, consumer worries, and an overall "slowdown"/recession (depends on who you listen to),  have lead to an overall decrease in automotive sales in April 2008.  Specifics: GM's Chevrolet TrailBlzer SUV sales fell 73%, Ford Motor's SUV sales fell 36% compared to April 2007 and overall SUV sales dropped 12%, Chrysler's truck and SUV sales were down 25% and the Jeep Commander SUV sales dropped 49% in April as well. (source: SUV AND TRUCK SALES PLUNGE, Dee-Ann Durbin, AP, D2, Washington Post, May 2, 2008)

The irony to this situation is that Richard E. Dauch purchased American Axle and Manufacturing about 14 years ago with the promise to resurrect the company with massive investments in manufacturing upgrades and worker training.  Living up to his word, Mr. Dauch invested $3 billion into modernization and worker training and the company earned about $3.25 billion in sales and a profit of $37 million in 2007.  American Axel's management claims that despite the record profit in 2007, the company can not afford to pay the workers a supposed $73/hr (wage + benefits). 

Concurrent to this strike, the Korean - U.S. Free Trade Agreement passed through a major hurdle with Korea's acceptance to import U.S. beef.  This was considered a significant issue and many now assert there should be little resistance to the agreement.  But, Automakers and Unions have redoubled their objection to the agreement, asserting the agreement gives in to "Korea's one-way street in manufactured trade." (Politico, April 29, 2008).  But, both the American Farm Bureau and most of the National Association of Manufacturers support the agreement and assert it will provide many benefits to the U.S. economy.  

Looking at these two thoughts in relation to the "big picture," one must wonder who is more to blame for job losses related to international trade, foreign companies, trade agreements, or ourselves and our workers.