By Doug Cunningham

Tension is growing in the American Axle strike as dozens of GM plants remain closed by the UAW strike at the auto parts maker. Over the weekend two people were arrested for disorderly conduct on the picket lines in Detroit. Bill Alford is Vice-President of UAW Local 235. He says morale is high on the picket lines, but the company is at times taunting picketers.

[Alford]: “We've got, you know, people trying to come out here and picket in peace and they're being taunted and things like that, you know. And you know all my picketers are just tryin' to come out here - you know they're hard-workin' people. They work nine to five and they come out here and picket. And then you've got the company, you know, does tactics - things that they know will probably incite people and make them upset."

3600 workers went on an unfair labor practices strike February 26th after the company refused to provide detailed information needed to bargain over American Axle’s demand that wages be cut in half and future retiree pensions and health care benefits be ended. Alford says the strike is supported by the local communities and the strikers are grateful.

[Alford 2]: “We really appreciate all the support that we're getting from the communities. And thank you to everyone that's came down and brought a little packet of money or a box of food or a busload of people to help walk with us. I want to thank everyone. It's just really touching."