UAW says American Axle contract ratified by 78 pct

DETROIT, May 22 (Reuters) - United Auto Workers union members ratified a new four-year contract with American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc (AXL.N) by a 78 percent margin, the UAW said in a statement on Thursday.

The agreement, which calls for the closure of three plants, covers about 3,650 workers at facilities in Michigan and New York.

"Our members have had to make some tough decisions for themselves and their families and have done so with careful deliberation," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement.

American Axle spokeswoman Renee Rogers confirmed the union had notified the company that its national agreement, as well as local agreements that cover some of the facilities, had been ratified. (Reporting by David Bailey; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)