The United Auto Workers is opposed to reopening automotive production plants in early May, with president Rory Gamble saying in a statement that the union “does not believe the scientific data is conclusive that it is safe to have our members back in the workplace.”
“We have not done enough testing to really understand the threat our members face,” Gamble also said. “We want to make sure the scientific data is supportive and every possible health protocols and enhanced protections are in place before UAW members walk into the workplace.”
Rory Gamble
General Motors and crosstown rival Ford have not announced any restart dates or provided a timeline as to when they may get their plants back up and running. Fiat Chrysler, however, has publically stated that it plans to get some of its facilities back online by May 4th – just days after Michigan’s stay-at-home-order is set to be lifted.
The Detroit News obtained a letter that GM sent to employees this week that stated the company was seeking employee volunteers “to support our restart planning.” The automaker has been working with the UAW to implement ways to keep workers safe when its plants get back up and running.
GM also confirmed to the newspaper that it was “notifying a small number of team members, primarily salaried and skilled trades employees, that we may need them to report to work soon.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also said this week that she wanted to “analyze what the protocols are,” to keep UAW workers safe when they return to their job posts “and start to slowly re-engage in a safe manner.”
The UAW has said The Big Three must supply adequate testing to employees if they return to work and “create an environment where workers are comfortable to self-report symptoms and self-quarantine, without penalty.” The union also wants workers to be able to self quarantine without losing pay, as they may be apprehensive to report symptoms if they believe they will lose their paycheque as a result.
“If this is going to work, we need to do this right.,” Gamble said earlier this week. “And importantly the return to work date should be dictated by the science of the contagion curve, not economic factors. If we do this wrong, we all only have a prolonged economic hardship.”
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Source: The Detroit News
Comments
I would like to know what models the UAW is using to calculate risk. It isn’t the same in Dallas as it is in Detroit or Chicago. It varies by region.
Arlington may be ready in May. Detroit may not be ready until June.
By June, a lot of people will be begging for jobs. The UAW does not want to be the ones demanding time off for their members when that happens.
I do not think they are demanding time off, they are emending proof like the rest of us that it will be safe to get back into an office, restaurant, and Plant to work with others. What measures and what Statistics are they using to determine that it is safe to reopen in May. I could totally understand their concern.
This is so unrepresented that there is no silver bullet answer. Everyone will have their own opinions going forward.
The UAW is never ready to work. All they are is a bunch of way overpaid and lazy people. Anything to make money while doing nothing. They should have all been fired during the strike and replaced with non-union workers that actually want to do there jobs.
As I have explained here many times that I am personally indifferent to Unions. In my opinion all Auto Manufacturers need to be part of the UAW or the Government needs to assist our Big Three to get rid of the UAW so they are not in a HUGE Disadvantage in their own back yard. Having said all that, why do you feel the UAW workers are lazy and do not want to work?
You think everyone right now regardless of position or sector is not scared to either go back to work or if there will be no work to go back to? I have no issue at all with the UAW or any employee requesting from their company what Data and or Proof do they have that it is safe to go back into a Restaurant, Office, Airport, or Manufacturing plant. Why do you see that as an issue?
Nobody wants to be sitting at home obviously but at the same time nobody wants to see a Family member, friend, or coworker parish due to us having a quick Trigger finger with zero Data to back up anything one way or the other. As I stated earlier, this is so unrepresented that nobody is right and nobody is wrong in how to feel about this situation. Everyone feels differently. The only thing in my mind that should not be happening is making decisions without Data. That includes Government, individual people, and Companies.
They are still receiving around 75% of their wages .Talk about not wanting to go back to work has to be a Joke.Run around and still get 3/4 of your wage.Such a sad Situation.LOL.
There are a lot of people in that situation too. They are called Salaried employees.
Are they lazy because their companies had to close down?
Get off your High Horse with calling people lazy simply because they want to know what their employer is doing for their safety. I see absolutely nothing wrong with the UAW requesting the Data that GM or anyone is using to open their Doors back up. As I said I am not in a Union nor is my sector in any way shape or form associated with the union at all. I am indifferent to Unions but for people to call others that are concerned Lazy is simply ridiculous. These people have Family, Friends, and Loved ones they need to worry about besides simply themselves just like all of us do.
On a side note, there are plenty of cars sitting on dealer Lots that NOBODY is in a Hurry to go purchase but somehow GM is going to be in a MAD Dash to Produce more vehicles that dealerships do not want?
Not Just GM but Pretty much every Auto maker.
Our Government (Nor other Governments around the World for the Most part) can’t even provide us with concrete information as to how and when we should try and open things up and how to go about it due to lack of Crucially Needed Data but we are going to sit here and call UAW Members Lazy because they want to be safe at work?
Paycheque?
That’s how you spell it when you’re British, some parts of Canada or a pretentious douche.
There is no way to 100% ensure that someone doesn’t get sick. Employers can only do so much and what’s to say employees don’t get it somewhere else and bring with them, then blame the company. I say they should do what they can then employees can wear gloves & masks, if they want paychecks.
“We want to make sure the scientific data is supportive and every possible health protocols and enhanced protections are in place before UAW members walk into the workplace.” – its not possible to control unless all employees stay in the plant and don’t go home or associate with anyone.
the return to work date should be dictated by the science of the contagion curve, not economic factors – because they’re not paying any bills.
The UAW is a cancer…. they suck the life blood out of everything they touch…
Have any of these people criticizing uaw workers as lazy and paid too much money, EVER worked in a production plant 10 hours a day sweating with no air conditioning, doing same repetitive thing 630 times a day ? Going home with fingers and arms so sore u can’t even lift them or use fingers tips because they hurt so bad . Backs so sore ur in pain all the time. I guarantee majority of you couldn’t work an assembly line for one day!!!! So until u have ever experienced the work, u should shut ur mouth and go sit back at ur desk with air conditioned offices and NO physical labor. Look in mirror and realize what lazy is!!!
Renee – simple response, find something else to do, last time I noticed this is America and you can do anything you want.
Oh and you only pay 3% of your healthcare when everyone else pays significantly more so you don’t pay what others do for their aches and pains. UAW “workers” are babies, they should join the real world… … and shut your mouth, complainer…
Lines are good for some but not for all.
If you don’t like the heat get out if the plant. That is what I chose
I found if you don’t like a job no one is forcing me to stay there. I worked dirty, hard and even dangerous jobs. But I got my education and have worked a dream job for 25 years. No need for a union, no need for complaining. I even paid my own way in doing it.
Opportunity it out there but many lack the will or fortitude to pursue it.
All I am trying to say is that u shouldn’t make an ignorant comment and say ALL uaw are lazy. I appreciate my job and all that comes with it. I have 4 years till I retire and never once have I taken anything for granted. There are more of us that appreciate and want to get back to work than those of us that do not. U shouldn’t judge .
Some people overuse their soapbox. I’m glad you followed up your comment.
Renee: Does forfeiting rights matter to the membership?
Those that it does should speak up. I’m not in UAW, but very wary of top-down ‘protocols’, ‘enhanced protections’ and ‘adequate testing’.
Why aren’t they discussing an allowance and fund for at-risk employees to stay home with sufficient income?
Look at our Congress and Senate, how much do they work and really get anything of value done for the american people. They vote their own pay vacation, time and pension, health care. Yet the working people get condemed over any little bit of crumbs.
Most Americans probably don’t really care what happens to the UAW after the union said they will support Joe Biden, Biden who was part of the Obama Administration which saw factories close and jobs move to China.
It would be pointless to open up a factory. Then have to shut it down a few weeks later because of an outbreak. Plus there would be lawyers, and a public relations nightmare.
GM has to get this right. In the long run a few more days shut down to get things right won’t make a bit of difference.
@Peter G
Not just GM, every single Big Company does in my opinion.
It has to be way more expensive to open things back up to only have to idle yet again three/four weeks later.
Makes Zero Sense.
as soon as that extra $600 a week in unemployment runs out they will go back to work.
All the left companies, primarily union shops, governors of left led states, which by the way, are always in the toilet, and basically any “progressive”, and I use the term loosely, will stall as long as possible to bring their people back, and return to a, close as normal work structure. They definitely wouldn’t want to help speed up the economy, and make Trump look good…….which will happen anyway, regardless of their efforts!! The truth hurts, and no matter the subject, politics always plays a large role in everything that takes place in this world! Sad, because generally the usual uninformed, ignorant, and stupid people that continue to breed, get their childish way!!
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