The strike at American Axle that has shut down or reduced production at 30 of General Motors' plants is actually helping the automaker weather a downturn in the economy. GM posted a $3.3 billion first-quarter loss, having entered 2008 with a backlog of trucks and SUVs going unsold as gas prices shot up. The 2-month-old strike at the parts supplier resulted in GM producing 100,000 fewer vehicles ...