That was the word, according to the Associated Press, from Steve Conner, an American Axle employee for the past fourteen years.  And that just about says everything you need to know about Big Labor's talking points and their hold over many rank and file members striking the struggling auto-parts supplier.

UAW workers have been on strike outside American Axle for nearly two months now, refusing to make wage and benefit concessions that would keep their jobs here in Michigan.  As recently as the last seven days the UAW's top brass turned down offers from the company that would have ended the strike and ensured their workers remained the best paid and compensated in the entire global market.  But no go.  Looks like Ron Gettelfinger went back and told the rank and file that their jobs are headed to China and unfortunately, there's at least one union member who bought that line of garbage.

Before we deal with Mr. Conner's dream world let's take a gander at reality.  American Axle's employees (UAW members) currently bring down over $73 an hour in pay and benefits.  The employees of AA's competitors (UAW members) in other states, like Ohio, who manufacture the same products and sell them to the same companies and claim the same American citizenship and live only a couple hours drive south, not over in China or Mexico... they make between $20 and $30 an hour.  That's a $43 an hour difference, minimum!

Dauch told the company's meeting of shareholders that he remains committed to negotiating a deal following a strike that is nearing the two-month mark. But he said since the UAW has reached deals with competing suppliers to cut costs for the U.S. market, American Axle needs similar considerations.

"The competitors are going around us and laughing at us," Dauch said.

As he spoke at American Axle's headquarters in Detroit, hundreds of striking workers rallied outside. The workers were carrying picket signs and jeering vehicles carrying people to the meeting.

Still, the company offered the union a deal that would continue to make their employees the best paid in the field and Big Union leadership turned them down cold.  Mr. Conner is not being asked to compete with China or Mexico.  He's not even being asked to compete with Ohio!  He's being offered a deal better than his UAW brethren in our neighboring State are getting.  What does that have to do with the Red Chinese?!

Conner's statement is indicative of a sort of hive-mind thinking that pervades organized labor here in Michigan.  If there's a problem anywhere, anytime it's got to be those darn Mexicans.  During the 2006 campaign it morphed and changed and China became a new boogey man.  And now, just like 2006, when China literally has nothing to do with any part of the conversation at hand it becomes the scarecrow.  

The worst part is that Conner's fear and paranoia have the potential to lead to one heck of an ugly self fulfilling prophecy.  If American Axle's union work force doesn't want to be the best paid union work force in their industry in the world then the company will start to look to China and Mexico.  They need to produce.  There are dozens of automobile plants across Michigan and the region literally waiting on their parts.  Tens of thousands of union members sitting at home with nothing to do because the union bosses are encouraging these fever dreams.  

Read on...