UAW members at Detroit Axle have voted to OK a strike.

The union said in a news release that workers on Wednesday “had voted by a resounding 99% to authorize a strike if necessary.”

Workers produce front and rear axles as well as transmissions for Daimler Truck, and one of the main issues is pay disparity.

Detroit Diesel workers are in the same plant and make $10 more an hour “for the same assembly work,” according to a union video, accusing the company of using “divide and conquer” tactics. The workers are represented by UAW Local 163.

A union flyer says the top assembler wages for Detroit Axle workers in January 2024 were $24.50 per hour, while wages at Detroit Diesel were $34.62 per hour in January 2024 and are set to increase to $36.83 per hour in June 2027.

Anja Weinert, a spokeswoman for parent company Daimler Truck North America, provided a statement highlighting the vote as part of the negotiating process:

“We would like to clarify that the recent vote was a preauthorization vote and is part of the normal negotiations process. The current contract remains in effect until next Friday, Jan. 24, at 11:59 p.m. We are optimistic about reaching a negotiated agreement.”

The company said there are about 400 employees in the bargaining unit.

The company in December announced a $285 million investment at the complex. That project, which garnered incentives of more than $30 million in state grant funding and a tax abatement, was to enhance current production and equip the plant to make electric components for medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks.

The investment was promoted as creating up to 436 jobs and preserving about 2,000 more at the facility in Redford Township and Detroit that supplies parts for the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses vehicle platforms.

A 2023 company news release said the operation dates to 1938 and the formation by General Motors of the GM Diesel Division. Detroit Diesel Corp. was formed in 1988 and acquired by Daimler in 2000.

The company at the time said the operation had produced 1.1 million heavy-duty engines and had almost 3,000 Daimler Truck employees in Detroit.

Laura Dickerson, UAW Region 1A director, said in the union release that “since 2020, Daimler has seen over $17 billion in profits. Daimler can afford to provide UAW members at Detroit Axle what every worker deserves: pay that keeps up with inflation, a safe workplace and a secure retirement. If it takes a fight to win that, our members are ready.”

Zachary Harper, a committeeperson at Detroit Axle, said in the release that “this overwhelming vote shows we are no longer content with the crumbs from Daimler’s pie.”

The contract fight in Detroit follows successful negotiations between the union and company last year.

In May, UAW members at Daimler Truck plants in the South approved a new four-year contract with the company.

That agreement, which covers more than 7,000 workers, averted a strike and included raises of more than 25% and the introduction of profit-sharing and cost-of-living adjustments as it ends a tiered wage system at the truck maker, according to the union.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

Another new-to-market restaurant chain is grabbing a slice of Short Pump. 

Emmy Squared Pizza, known for its Detroit-style pizza, is preparing to open at 2225 Old Brick Road in the recently vacated Burger Bach space in West Broad Village. 

The growing pizzeria brand’s geographic roots span various regions of the country. While it serves Detroit-style pizza, which is baked in a rectangular pan and is topped with cheese up to the edges for a crispy crust, Emmy Squared first opened in New York City in 2016 and is now headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

Emmy Squared Pizza serves Detroit-style pizza. (Courtesy Emmy Squared social media)

The company did respond to multiple requests seeking comment for this story. It recently applied for an ABC license for 2225 Old Brick Road and posted multiple job listings for a new Glen Allen location. 

The Short Pump location looks to be part of a broader growth plan for the company. Emmy Squared has over 30 locations open or in the works throughout the country, including one in Charlottesville, and late last year it announced new C-suite leadership to “position the brand for its next phase of growth and innovation,” according to a news release. 

Burger Bach closed in West Broad Village last summer after more than a decade in business, and in the fall it closed its Midlothian location. Its Carytown location, which is owned by a different group, remains open. 

The building in West Broad Village to which Emmy Squared is headed is owned by Shamin Hotels and is anchored by Shamin’s Aloft Hotel.

Thalhimer’s Jim Ashby and Colliers’ Peter Vick and Harrison Hall handled Emmy Squared’s lease.

The bulk of West Broad Village’s commercial space was sold in 2022 to Florida-based CTO Realty Growth. Since then, the mixed-use center has seen a bit of restaurant churn. Ford’s Garage recently opened in the old MPM Tiki Bar, which came available after MPM relocated to the former Halligan space within West Broad Village.

Last year the former Kona Grill building was filled by Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão, and West Broad Village also lost a longtime restaurant tenant in Carrabba’s, whose old home remains vacant. 

Malik Beasley meant business in New York City earlier this week. As the Detroit Pistons faced off against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Beasley got off to a hot start.

In the first quarter of action, Beasley checked in off the bench for five minutes. He made all but one of his five shots from the field. All of his makes came from downtown. Beasley produced 12 points as the Pistons got off to a 37-26 lead over New York.

The next two quarters were quiet for the veteran sharpshooter. Coming out of the half, Beasley checked in for three minutes. He landed just one point during that time.

When Beasley collected another four minutes of action in the third quarter, he split free throws and missed both of his shots from the field. Once again, Beasley produced just one point.

At that point, Beasley claimed he had heard a lot of chirping from a fan seated near the court. After the game, the guard revealed he had words for that Knicks fan after getting the last laugh in the fourth quarter.

“Shoutout to the Knicks fan,” Beasley told The Athletic. “He said I hit four threes in the first quarter and hadn’t done **** since. I was like, ‘Watch this.’ Got the ball, hit the three, cussed him out, then I got the second one.”

Although the Pistons had a small cushion of a lead going into the fourth quarter, the Knicks didn’t make it comfortable in quarter four. It was a back-and-forth battle, with Detroit’s game getting threatened in nearly every possession.

Cade Cunningham led the way for Detroit by scoring 11 points in his final nine minutes on the court. However, Beasley’s nine points, which included two very timely threes, created a dagger sequence for the Knicks. Beasley had every right to gloat at The Garden.

The Pistons made it back home to Michigan with a 124-119 victory. Malik Beasley once again proved to be a fantastic offseason pickup, as he scored 22 points in 17 minutes.

Overall, Beasley has produced 17 points on 40 percent shooting from three in 40 games. While he gets the occasional start for Detroit, the 28-year-old veteran has been a star off the bench.

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