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Fewer than half of the hourly employees at American Axle and Manufacturing who are returning to work this week for the first time since going on strike in February will still have jobs in a year, company executives said Wednesday. The parts supplier said Wednesday that it expected to save about $300 million a year under its new contract with the United Automobile Workers union, largely by eliminating about 2,000 of the 3,650 jobs now held by UAW members in Michigan and New York, along with an unspecified number of salaried positions. Workers can leave voluntarily by accepting a buyout package worth either $85,000 or $140,000, depending on how long they have been there. Those who stay will earn considerably lower wages, which will be tempered by three annual ?buydown? payments totaling as much as $105,000.