UAW presses GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler to temporarily shut down US factories
In a letter sent to union members, UAW President Rory Gamble said the union has requested the shutdown “to safeguard our members, our families and our communities.”
The automakers asked for 48 hours to consider other plans, according to the letter. The automakers and the UAW had announced last weekend that they were creating a joint task force to come up with practices to keep factories safe from the coronavirus.
All three automakers have said they have implemented more stringent cleaning regimens, put restrictions on access to the plant and taken other steps to keep workplaces safe for employees. The deadline set by the UAW expires 6 p.m. this evening, according to Gamble’s letter.
“We will be evaluating what the companies submit today and there will be a meeting this evening at 6 p.m., where the Task Force will review plans for the safety and health of all members, their families and our communities,” Gamble wrote in the letter
If the union is not satisfied with the automakers’ proposed steps, the union threatened to take action on its own.
“These companies will be put on notice that the UAW will use any and all measures to protect our brothers and sisters who are working in their facilities,” Gamble wrote.