UAW Workers Strike at Three Rivers Axle Plant After Contract Expires
UAW workers walked out at midnight as contract talks failed, demanding wages be restored to pre-2008 crisis levels at the GM supplier facility.
THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN — Union workers at the American Axle plant walked off the job at midnight Monday as their contract expired, with United Auto Workers Local 2093 delivering a pointed message to company leadership: “No contract, no axles.”
The strike affects the Three Rivers facility in St. Joseph County, which supplies components to General Motors. Workers began picketing after UAW Local 2093 members voted to reject what the union called an unfair contract offer from American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.
Wages Still Below 2008 Levels
The main issue driving the work stoppage centers on compensation that union officials say has never recovered from cuts made during the 2008 financial crisis. Long-time workers who earned $29 per hour in 2008 saw their wages slashed to $14.50 per hour during the economic downturn, according to the union.
Eighteen years later, wages at the plant top out at just $22 per hour after a five-year progression, still below pre-crisis levels. “We did it to save the company. We did more than save them, we made them billions of dollars. So tonight it’s about getting our fair share. We paid the price, now it’s time that we reap the benefits,” said Josh Jagger, bargaining chairman for UAW Local 2093, during a livestream announcing the strike.
Federal Charges Filed Against Company
The union escalated its dispute with American Axle by filing federal unfair labor practice charges against the company ahead of the May 31 contract deadline. The UAW accuses the manufacturer of illegally threatening and intimidating union members who were organizing in preparation for contract negotiations.
According to the charges, American Axle called local police to remove off-duty employees who were distributing UAW literature, buttons and stickers at the plant’s entrance. The company also allegedly threatened workers with termination and trespassing charges for their union activities.
Company Remains Silent
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc., which rebranded as Dauch Corporation at the beginning of 2026, has not responded to requests for comment about the strike or the federal labor charges.
The work stoppage marks a significant escalation in labor tensions at the facility, which plays an important role in GM’s supply chain. The strike’s duration will depend on whether both sides can reach agreement on wage restoration and other contract terms that have been under negotiation leading up to the midnight deadline.
