Three Rivers, fearing loss of largest employer, fights to keep American Axle plant

Eric Morath / The Detroit News

THREE RIVERS — Erv Heidbrink points at two photos among dozens hanging on his office wall: One is an aged picture of a mighty General Motors Corp. plant, the other a more recent shot of a vacant lot in Flint where that factory once stood.

Heidbrink, the president of United Auto Workers Local 2093, which represents striking American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. workers in Three Rivers, promises the plant he represents today won’t share the same fate as the Flint factory, where he started his career.

"This work force won’t see another factory close," Heidbrink insisted. "Our success and the company’s success should go hand in hand."

Protecting American Axle jobs is a priority not only for Heidbrink, but also for everybody in Three Rivers. The company is St. Joseph County’s largest employer, one of the biggest taxpayers and its workers are the top donor group to the United Way.

While many other western Michigan cities are moving their economies toward health care, biotech or tourism, Three Rivers — population 7,300 — remains a factory town. About 800 people work at the American Axle plant that employees and residents say is the heart of the community.

So much so that during a recent union meeting strikers unanimously instructed their leadership to work to keep the plant open, even if that meant sacrificing some money for better buyout packages for current workers.

"Even if they cut our pay $10 per hour, even if we don’t work here, we need to keep this plant open for this community," said Linda Case, a striker and Three Rivers resident.

Workers at the plant joined their union brethren in Detroit and near Buffalo, N.Y. in walking off the job Feb. 26 after the Detroit-based auto supplier demanded deep wage and benefit cuts. Talks progressed Thursday, the strike’s 80th day, company spokeswoman Renee Roger said.

Although there are more than twice as many strikers in Detroit, a short drive down Main Street in Three Rivers reveals that the dispute hits closer to home here.

"We support the UAW," says a sign that fills the window of Lowry’s Books and More.

Centsible Treasures offers a 15-percent discount to those who show their union identification.

Workers flexible

With strikers no longer drawing a regular paycheck, Main Street businesses are suffering and social service agencies are rallying to help their former donors.

Sitting across the highway from a farm field, the Three Rivers plant, which began life as a Continental Can Co. factory and then a GM plant, has fought for survival several times. Earlier this decade, workers agreed to more flexible work rules and lower wages for some employees. They were rewarded with an axle line — a more profitable component than the drivelines the factory also makes.

That apparent flexibility may be aiding them again in the current strike. While many said they heard several weeks ago that the plant could close, American Axle’s latest proposal keeps Three Rivers as one of only two striking plants slated to continue operations.

Still the local is fighting to maintain good wages, and has the community’s backing, Heidbrink said.

"We have support because people are concerned that if our wages fall — which are among the best in the county — theirs could fall even further," he said.

A faltering Michigan economy, combined with the strike, has made it difficult for Main Street merchants, but that’s not stopping many from showing their support for the union.

Kim Henritzy says she’s selling fewer second-hand clothes and décor at her consignment shop, Centsible Treasures, contributing to the 32 percent sales drop she had in March, the strike’s first full month. She said a nearby gym closed after striking workers lost a benefit that paid for a health club membership.

Still, Henritzy said she supports the strikers because they are among her best customers.

"They are such a huge percentage of our population, with them making only $200 a week, it hurts all of us," she said, referring to what the workers are earning in strike pay.

Workers on strike also exacerbate the problems created by job losses, said Michael Dunlap, a St. Joseph County Commissioner.

"Meijer and Wal-Mart are great, but we need good paying jobs here," he said. "Jobs solve a lot of problems, be it crime, foreclosures or school funding."

More turn to charities

American Axle strikers and other auto workers in Three Rivers are now turning to charities for help. Making matters worse, a nearby International Automotive Components plant is partially idled because of the American Axle strike, and a smaller supplier is also striking.

The United Way has seen a 10 percent increase in requests for help, the local Salvation Army has exhausted its utility assistance fund and a church soup kitchen in nearby Centerville has seen its attendance double from a few months ago.

"We are seeing a lot of workers come in with their children," said Beverly Nicholas, a volunteer who runs the soup kitchen at the United Methodist Church, as she prepared to serve more than 50 baked spaghetti dinners Wednesday evening. "We always keep extra on hand so we don’t have to turn anyone away."

A closet half-filled with can goods and a kitchen freezer in the church represents one of the county’s six food banks.

The United Way is especially hit hard. American Axle workers contributed $109,000 last year to the local agency’s $650,000 campaign. Without donations workers give through payroll deductions, the United Way is losing $9,000 a month — causing the agency to cut staff and freeze a youth leadership program, executive director Kelly Hostetler said.

In response to dwindling supplies at local food banks, the United Way is kicking off a countywide canned food drive. Schools and businesses will collect cans for the strikers and others.

"We’re not asking for money, only for food — I think people can relate to that," Hostetler said. "The strike is not the sole issue we face, but it is having a trickle down effect."

Whether it’s a restaurant dropping off pizza on the picket line or the United Way offering its support, the community rallying around the strikers’ raises spirits, said Kevin Bushouse, an executive committee member at Local 2093.

"We’ve not been out 12 weeks to abandon ship now," he said as he sat on a chair after the local’s weekly informational meeting.

"We’ve been contributors to a lot of causes in this community. It’s sure nice to be paid back now that some of our members need these services."

As the American Axle strike continues in Three Rivers, downtown Main Street businesses are suffering. Many of them, such as Lowry’s Books and More, show support for the striking workers. Having the community rally behind them helps, workers say. (Dave Witham / Special to The