Business Digest: American Axle strike hits Nebraskans

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=10300098

Published Thursday | April 3, 2008
Business Digest: American Axle strike hits Nebraskans

About 130 workers at a Tenneco plant in Cozad, Neb., will be laid off April 14.

The layoffs are the result of a United Auto Workers strike against American Axle that has closed General Motors plants around the country and reduced demand for Tenneco products.

The company designs, manufacturers and distributes automotive emission control and ride control products and systems. The Cozad plant has 640 workers, and the layoffs represent about 20 percent of the plant's work force.

Human Resources Manager Jay Edwards said the plant hopes to recall the workers when the strike ends. "We will continue to pay the company's portion of health care and benefits, so that will help them to hang tough a little bit and wait out the strikes," he said.

Edwards said the layoff plan was based on years of service, with the most recent hires laid off first. — The Kearney Hub