With the "Free Trade" threat over their heads and information
getting even harder to find, as media outlets continue to narrow their
pool of journalistic talent, having those affected by these labor
disputes speaking their minds on the internet is one of the only ways
to reach into the lives and get an understanding of the human side of
these events.

Kongsberg Automotive Of Norway Lock Out of Steelworkers in Van Wert, Ohio

Not
much of the goings on at Kongsberg Automotive Of Norway is known, aside
from the fact that the company, formerly known as Teleflex was acquired
in the first quarter of 2008. After the local USWA Steelworkers
rejected a new contract on April 2nd., the company locked them out,
then proceeded with temporary worker replacement and threats of moving
outside the country, while the community leaders of Van Wert, Ohio have
been trying to convince the company to stay put at any costs, oddly
enough, the new owner Kongsberg , "has not paid their property tax for
the first half of the year, which was due Feb. 13", according to Van
Wert County Treasurer Bev Fuerst.

After cross-posting the original Kongsberg story at Union Review on (4/5/08), I got a response from one of the locked out workers, Mr. Tom Potter:

(4/8/08):The
Union came to the bargaining table expcecting to bargain in good faith.
The Company only wanted to take back. Take back in wages, pension and
health insurance. Maybe one or two but all three concessions at one
time could not be acceptable. Especially not in light of any facts to
back up any claim the Company made in reference to competitives.

This
Company bought a plant that was making money the day it became their
property. The Company negotiator even clarified that the company was
not pleading poor mouth. One of the main issues of contention is that
the company wants to implement a two tier wage system that would drop
the current worker down to a lower rate of pay simply if a part number
would change. This would have the negative effect of a wage reduction
ranging from $2.54 up to $7.38 hour. The company is a billion dollar
co. every worker at this location has the potential of being placed in
this two tier before the new contract would run out, put that with a
freeze in the current defined benefit pension, higher insurance
premiums and out of pocket, and deductible on the insurance with no
raise in wages over the three year agreement - without any real
explination - the members did not think so - so the turned the offer
down.

This meeting took place in the christain life center church - may "god bless" those for standing up to tough obsticiles

I
asked on 4/9, "Thank you Tom for adding that info, I take it you are
one of the locked out workers?" and on 4/11 Tom responded:

I am on the front lines of this battle.

I will inform you of what happens when a Foreign National Company, buys a U.S. Company.
How that Company comes in and tries to destroy the will of the u.s.
workers, to break their Spirit And Determination. How it reeks havoc
upon those u.s. workers by the Company Locking Them Out of the plant so
they cannot perform their work.

The picket line in Van Wert,
Ohio tonight is wet and windy but brave men and women walk those lines.
Standing up against all obstacles, having the Courage to know what is
right. These workers are members of the community of Van Wert and the
surrounding area. They are honest and respectful people. They are U.S.
Veterans, leaders in the community, neighbors, friends and patrons, the
list could go on forever, they are community.

Kongsberg
Automotive Of Norway is intent on breaking the will of these Made In
The U.S.A. Workers - Kongsberg Automotive Of Norway will "Preach a
Company Code Of Ethics but they do not practice it in The United States.

Before I could respond, Mr. Potter added...

This
Company now has stooped as low as contacting former workers of the
Company, that the Company claimed to "Terminate For Just Cause," asking
them if they would come back to work. What a "Code Of Co. Ethics." Even
their own salary group that they just let go are being asked to come
back to work.[All have said "No"] All in their attempt to run this
plant with temporary workers and put not only themselves in jeopardy
but that of the customers and the general public. If certain
components for Ford, Chrysler or General Motors are not made to
specifications then they are prone to failure and potential recall
after the components have been installed on the car makers vehicles.

Kongsberg Automotive Of Norway is wanting to impose upon these U.S.
Workers their philosophy on competitiveness in a global economy by
bringing them down to Chinas' living standards rather then bringing
China's up to the United States. In other words lets pay our U.S.
Workers less. I do know that Kongsberg Automotive V.P Of Operations N A
Operations Driveline Systems Kevin McMahon was present one day at these
negotiations and pretty much was raising the flag of China all across
the table.

It's Cold on the picket line today, the wind in much stronger and the temperature is dropping. It will be a cold night.

Tomorrow will be Sunday and the Community will be in prayer, Kongsberg
will keep busing in temporary workers and the guards will meet them at
the gate. These proud U.S. Workers Of Van Wert will man their post. May
all the prayers be heard to bring this Company to their senses, for
this senseless act. Amen .

Tom Potter brings the news
into our living rooms, from a community that is behind the workers and
built around this plant, he lets you view the real story from that
front line, where the media doesn't bother, they would rather you
didn't care about your fellow American workers.

This is one of
the many reasons I have started the series of Free Trade's working
victims, highlighting the conditions which American workers must try to
compete against in parts of the world where our industrial base is
being vacuumed into, the current focus is that these places the common
workers cannot even afford to buy food. If the workers in America are
going to drop to that level, we are all in trouble and any politician
who is voting for more Free Trade agreements is the opponent of the
American worker, union or otherwise. Which brings us to the other
company that is being threatened by "Free Trade"...

American Axle UAW Workers Strike in Michigan and Buffalo, New York

American
Axle, has been demanding overwhelming concessions from their employees,
threatening to run itself out of the country if these demands are not
met. Around 35,000 GM workers have been put out of work, laid off or
have had hours dropped due to this struggle. While the owner and CEO of
AAM, Dick Dauch, has finally came back to the bargaining table in the
sixth week of the strike, he still has been sticking to his guns, in
fact some of the companies points are very factual, the total labor
costs of manufacturing auto parts has been declining because of Free
Trade, concessions have been given in many other UAW affiliated shops
and in a larger scale, the BIG 3 have recently received tremendous
concessions, it is a different world, it's the world of "Free Trade"
where eventually it would seem if we keep bowing down to the effects of
the actions of our Representatives, none of us will be able to afford
rice.

Jolyna - A wife of AAM employee, has responded to the original story from 3/2/08, which I turned into a story here at the site, on 3/16, "An open letter to the AAM cofounder and CEO, Dick Dauch", has made another comment, and it sums up what must be going on in the hearts and minds of those striking employees:

(4/11/08) Dick Dauch and the shareholders of American Axle, enough is enough!!!

I am sick and tired of the CRAP that Dick Dauch and American Axle is trying to dish to its employees and their families.
I
can’t believe that this man has the nerve to sit there and offer
insulting wages with insulting “buy downs” and “buy outs”. He should be
ashamed of what he is putting our 3600+ families through. Let’s not
forget the other hundreds of thousands families that are being affected
by this strike too. Not only in our country; but world wide.

He
seems to think that his “buy downs” and “buy outs” will be “cushy and
comfy” for his employees. These figures must be enough to replace the
14 years my husband has in at your company, the fact that we have to
completely start over somewhere else – without the same pay – and allow
our families to keep our houses. In my opinion, this man will never
offer enough for the damage that has already been done and the wrath we
are about to endure.

He smugly accepts a huge salary and bonuses
while he threatens to close our plants because we aren’t making a
profit large enough. However, he fails to announce to the world that
these 5 plants fund the off shore plants and the off shore plants rake
in the profits. How do you expect my husband and his co-workers to
produce enough to finance all of these operations? Meanwhile, he is
taking machines out of my husband’s plant and sending them to non-union
plants. It’s a disgrace! AMERICAN Axle …yeah, real American.

I
resent the fact that he is turning our lives upside down. I resent the
fact we have to start over. I resent the fact we may have to TRY and
sell our home and my kids may have to leave their school and the
friends they know. Above all, I resent the fact that this is all
because of 1 company’s greed!

I hope the whole Dauch family and
members of the board can sleep well at night with their million dollar
salaries; knowing their jobs and salaries are safe. While we are
worrying and wondering how we are going to repair this financial and
emotional mess that he has thrown us into. We can only hope that he
acquires a conscience before it’s not too late!

Thank you, Tom and Jolyna,

I continue to hope for the best and will continue to help spread the message of your families struggle, in solidarity,
Joe

Big Thanks to UnionGal and Omaha Steve for keeping the information flowing

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