The nine-day old strike between the United Auto Workers union and American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings has caused General Motors to idle or slow work at 20 plants.

On February 26, UAW members in Michigan and New York went on strike against American Axle, which relies on GM for approximately 80 percent of its revenue. In response to the strike action, GM began slowing work last week as its supply of parts dwindled and ran out.

Altogether, more than 27,000 hourly workers at GM engine, transmission, and casting facilities are effected by the fall out from the strike in towns including Flint and Romulus, Michigan and St. Catherines, Ontario. Slow downs are planned at facilities in Baltimore; Bay City, Michigan; Bedford, Ohio; Defiance, Ohio; Parma, Ohio; and Fredericksburg, Virginia.

An assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri put in only four production hours yesterday for its 1,900 workers who build GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express vans.

Based in Detroit, American Axle formed as a spin-off entity from General Motors in 1994. A company spokesman indicated that deep wage concessions on the part of the union are necessary to keep American Axle in operation. Contract talks between the company and the union have resumed, but there is no word on the status of a potential agreement.