Bernie Ricke, president of UAW Local 600, which represents workers Ford Motor Co.’s Dearborn, Mich., pickup truck plant and at a number of auto suppliers, said automakers and suppliers have assured him they will allow self-quarantine without sanctions.
“They’ll have a policy that if people aren’t feeling well they should just stay home,” Ricke told Reuters. “That’s the message I’ve got from all of them: They’re going to protect people.”
Automakers and the UAW said they were unable to comment on the negotiations.
Dennis Earl, president of UAW Local 14, which represents more than 1,500 workers at GM’s Toledo transmission plant in Ohio, said discussions also have included providing enough face masks and shields for workers.
“Until they have enough to provide a clean, new mask every day for everybody, I would oppose any opening of the plant,” Earl said.
A General Motors spokesman said the automaker was in discussions with the union on a wide range of issues to ensure worker safety….
