American Axle union vote starts

DETROIT, May 19 (UPI) -- Striking American Axle and Holding Inc. employees are voting on a contract calling for a $10 hourly cut in pay for most workers, union officials said Monday.

The contract, discussed at a Sunday meeting in Detroit, also calls for the company's 3,650 striking employees to contribute more to healthcare, The Detroit News reported.

General Motors Corp., with 30 plants affected by the 84-day strike, has agreed to contribute $18 million to American Axle to defray supplemental unemployment benefit costs, the newspaper reported.

Some officials said contract would probably be ratified, but the Sunday meeting "got ugly" at times, UAW Local 235 President Adrian King said.

The contract offers $140,000 to any worker who decides to leave the company and $105,000 to those who stay and accept the lower wages.

In spite of the offers, several angry union members handed out leaflets urging members to reject the contract, the News reported.