The UAW is pushing General Motors to shut down its Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri after several employees there tested positive for COVID-19.
According to The Detroit Free Press, one employee tested positive for COVID-19 at Wentzville Assembly on Monday and by Thursday afternoon, the plant had five confirmed cases. As cases rose throughout the week, shop chairman and UAW Local 2250 member Alan Chambliss asked GM to shut down the plant to protect employees- a request the automaker denied.
Additionally, an anonymous source contacted GM Authority this week and said a total of nine people had tested positive for COVID-19 at the plant so far. GM would not confirm the total number of cases at Wentzville, with the automaker saying “we are not confirming individual cases and discuss specifics of individual cases.” It also said that its “protocols are working,” and added that its protocols and PPE “meet all CDC standards.”
UAW Local 2250 president Glenn Kage said he has “had conversations,” with GM about shutting the plant down for 14 days to perform a deep clean. The automaker is currently trying to remain open and catch positive COVID-19 cases using temperature monitoring, but Kage says that if the number of cases reaches 20, he will be forced to put his foot down.
“Five to 10 cases is a yellow light, 10 to 20 cases is a red light,” Kage told the Free Press this week. “In my opinion, 20 is too many. That’s the number.”
GM told the UAW that it will not shut down the plant at the moment as only a very small number of employees have tested positive for COVID-19 out of the 4,100 that work there. Employees are concerned about an outbreak, however, as three of the employees who tested positive work in the same area of the plant.
GM’s Wentzville Assembly builds the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, along with the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans. GM is eager to replenish its stock of more popular models like the Colorado and Canyon, making Wentzville a crucial cog in its sales machine.
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Comments
General Motors has failed to integrate UV-C lighting to kill any bacteria at the entry of the facility; this is something that needed to be done to stop COVID-19 bacteria from entering the building.
COVID-19 is not bacteria, and UV-C lighting is only effective on surfaces. If someone is infected and enters the building it isn’t going to stop it. Yes you will need to clean the areas where they worked to prevent further spread.
How bout those guys stop going down to the lake of the ozarks partying and ignoring the social distancing protocols.
99.8%
Why is 20 the number he puts his foot down? What an idiot. As far as a deep clean the chances are so remote for transmission on a surface that is does not makes sense to close a plant. Typical UAW absurdity.
a bunch of wine bags
It’s likely these people are passing it on by socializing outside the plant. How do you stop people being idiots outside work?
Unfortunately we’re going to have more than just Wentzville to worry about as cases are starting to spike back up again almost nationwide which might force another measure of business closures and Stay At Home orders reinstated all over again, for those of us who have nearly depleted our Savings just to survive the first round, we’ll be in trouble if this measure happens all over again. Let’s continue to be wise about our Off-Time activities out there!!
I was shocked that the US, ranked the number 1 country for pandemic preparedness, and with 4-6 weeks headstart, has performed so poorly. Poor top leadership and lack of coordination have cost you all dearly.
I wish you well. I look forward to visiting your wonderful country again when its safe.
Steve from New Zealand