Automotive suppliers are finding themselves in the crosshairs of wage issues as the industry continues to expand and seek lower costs, reports Crain’s Detroit Business. The industry has moved toward lower-cost solutions globally, including a long-term shift of North American vehicle and parts production to Mexico from the US. Wages at US auto suppliers, after adjusting for inflation, have declined by more than 25% since 2003 to an average of about $20 per hour, according to data supplied by the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. This has resulted in simmering discontent among a workforce that feels as though it’s being left behind by a booming industry.