There have been a total of 22 cases of COVID-19 at General Motors‘ Arlington Assembly plant since production there restarted in late May, according to internal documents obtained by The Detroit Free Press.
The UAW has been putting the pressure on GM to idle Arlington Assembly as the amount of COVID-19 cases in Texas continues to rise, but the automaker has said the risk to employees is minimal due to the various safety protocols it has in place. All employees’ temperatures are taken before they enter the Arlington facility, social distancing guidelines are enforced where possible and workers are required to wear approved PPE.
However, a person close to the local UAW branch says the union will keep pushing GM to temporarily close the plant if the number of cases continues to trend upward.
“If we continue to see the number of cases trend upward, the union would have to request a shutdown of the plant again so that it can be cleaned and workers can get tested,” the source, who did not want to be named, told the Free Press. “It’s a concern.”
Interior of GM’s Arlington plant
The UAW also told the Free Press that it is in constant discussion with GM with regard to the COVID-19 situation at all of GM’s plants in the United States – not just Arlington Assembly.
“The UAW is watching very carefully how these health and safety factors are impacting different plants and we are in a continual dialogue at all levels,” UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg told the newspaper. “Health and safety for all members is our priority.”
While there have been at least 22 cases of COVID-19 at Arlington Assembly, the plant employes around 5,000 workers, so less than 1 percent of employees there have tested positive for the virus.
GM is apprehensive to shutdown Arlington Assembly as the plant is the only site where its hugely popular and massively profitable line of full-size SUVs are built. The automaker is currently trying desperately to ramp up production of its new line of full-size SUVs, starting with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. The plant is believed to be running at just 25 percent capacity currently due to the new line of SUVs and other factors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comments
So what… we hear about all the “new cases”… this is not a death sentence its a flu virus, albeit one we’re still learning about. That said, “engage immune system” and keep moving. If you’re over 65 stay home…..
Yea this statistically irrelevant virus has been over hyped. Makes me mad when I hear the word pandemic used. This is not the black plague where Europe lost every other person! Oh yea and the numbers are not reported fairly. Deaths are largely old humans with other underlying issues.
i’ll take the advice of scientists over arm chair docs and a real estate conman anytime.
Yea like “Climate Change” is real science… its all models which can be manipulated. Pretty sure Barry Soetoro said, “now you can tell your kids TODAY is the day the oceans stopped rising….” sure it is… its liberal cowards “do as I say not as I do”.
BTW you can stay home Steve… we’ve got lives to live. The “con man” is President and a billionaire, you’re just a troll in your underwear in your mom’s basement… Go get some therapy and a job…
LOL YOU THINK CLIMATE CHANGE ISN’T REAL??? HAHAHAHA This thread is explaining lots about you buddy. Also he’s a billionaire who’s been bankrupt how many times? Screwed how many people? Money doesn’t mean you’re to be trusted or looked up to, if you truly feel that way I pity you and your family.
No need to pity me, I’m just fine. But you, well enjoy your hate, Trump is President, Jezebel isn’t and Barry Soetoro has been erased. Quid Pro Joe ain’t going to make it… enjoy!
@steve:
Exactly.
Even on Gilligans Island, they listened to The Professor and not Thurston Howell !
It doesn’t surprise me that you of all people think this isn’t a big deal. Enjoy watching your country remain the most infected on the planet by a HUGE margin.
Whats that supposed to mean? Americans are horrible? We suck and everyone else is more ‘enlightened” and better? If you think so MOVE! New Cases are determined by testing, which means we’ve got the best testing on the planet. Its 97-99.75 recovery rate, its not a death sentence. YOU stay home and wear your mask panties, we’re going back to work and live our lives.
Or perhaps go protest and riot because the virus doesn’t affect them only folks going to church… its a scam….
You do not have the best testing on the planet. I’ve never stopped working during this whole pandemic actually I haven’t been interrupted at all. But what I do live with is caution, which is all this has ever been about, just be careful, don’t be stupid, which is exactly what millions of Americans are NOT doing. You’re an embarrassment who denies facts. You can tout your made up 97% recovery rate and sleep soundly at night but the fact is your country has the most deaths by over double. You’re a joke, I can’t stress that enough, it’s like you think everyone who thinks the virus is no push over is some panzy who wants to stay home… I haven’t stayed home one single day since this thing started, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Neither have I BadBoy, I’ve been out there nonstop and engaging with customers daily and I’m not afraid of it. We have immune systems that are not being allowed to engage. Of course be careful and use gel and wash your hands, etc… but life cannot stop and the nation needs to keep moving. If anyone is afraid stay at home but don’t expect any more handouts. If you are able to work and your job is available but you’re “afraid/lazy”fine, you’re fired. If you’re allergic to peanuts you avoid them but the world keeps on spinning we don’t eliminate peanuts. I’m still not convinced this “invisible” virus is everywhere and everyone must live in fear and listen to the “experts”… nah… there will be another follow the “science” moment soon and we’ll be expected to fall in line, this is stage 1….
But who are these phantom people you’ve made up who want to stay home at all times until there’s a vaccine? I don’t know ANYONE who actually feels like that. I completely agree with you, its to a point where yes, we here in North America are a capitalist society and we need to get back to work, I do not disagree at all. But to sit there and call the virus a scam? Or to downplay it’s death toll? Which is over 5% by the way. It’s just dangerous man, you don’t need to do that. I understand, you’re a republican and I’m not, hell, I’m not even American. But this isn’t a political issue dude, people are dying, I’ve had family die from this, healthy family! It’s no joke, it’s not a political issue and when people like you go on the net and poo poo it , it’s dangerous to those who are impressionable around you. That’s all I’m saying, you and I disagree a lot, but I have no reason to think I’m better than you or vice versa. It’s important to listen to the experts on this and not the president who doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Follow the damn doctors and It’ll get better. America is a great place, but holy crap if you guys haven’t botched the handling of this virus real bad and it’s extremely sad to see.
I don’t know anyone who’s been sick… zero… No… this has never happened in our history and no one could have been prepared for it, especially blue state Governors. Trump is a doer and HE has saved countless lives vs blue state cowards. Hindsight is 20/20 but there is no question, no one could have handled it better. Trumps put up with liberal coward crap for 3+ years and he keeps winning. ALL his attackers are gutless cowards who use the power of the govt to attack their enemies. Every American should be appalled with the DemoRat party. Anyhow I”m not discussing this with you any longer, us productive people have work to do and taxes to pay… you… enjoy your anger and your basement candidate with dementia… ..
I tried to be civil with you and explain that this is not a political issue and all you’ve done is dig deeper to make it more political? And tell me I’m angry? I was trying to level with you man, political parties do not define us as people, the sooner you realize that the sooner you’ll understand where I’m coming from. Donald Trump denied the virus even existed until march. Literally anyone else could have done a better job than he has. The US is number one!….In deaths and cases… Purely because of the mishandling of the virus. Look at any other leader in any other country. Literally every single one of them has done a better job. Have you seen New Zealand? They got rid of the virus completely, 100% it’s been conquered. And once again you’re leaning on a point that has no basis in reality by saying “us productive people have work to do” Dude, I’ve told you twice that I don’t advocate for staying home and collecting cheques. I’ve been working this whole time! And for a company that is indirectly helping the companies that provide life saving pharmaceutical and medical help. I don’t mind having an open political discussion with anyone, but the bloody virus is NOT political and the fact that the republican base gets so damn upset any time someone criticizes how it was handled in the US, you start spewing unrealistic nonsense about how NOBODY could have done a better job…Meanwhile in reality, quite literally everyone else has done a better job. I don’t think you’re dumb Xjug, nor do I think you’re a bad person, but holy crap, get your own opinion and stop parroting that of your political party.
So yet another anonymous coward 1badcad with intellectual elitist syndrome lecturing to others with own set of political “facts”. It’s getting repulsive “dude”!! YOU lose ALL credibility when you claim the death toll is “over 5%”. Even the political CDC is publishing stats that it is most likely UNDER 1%. So much for your set of “facts”. AND the USA death toll would even be FAR less if DEMOCRAT Govs in NY, NJ, PA, MI didn’t put ACTIVE cases of COVID back into Nursing Homes & Long Term Care Facilities. They did this BY EXECUTIVE ORDER “dude”. These Govs have the blood of 1000’s on THEIR hands not #Orangemanbad. MY pathetically Governed state of NJ has 72% of COVID deaths INSIDE Nursing Homes & Long Term Care Facilities, our MOST VULNERABLE population!!! WHEN will DEMOCRAT Govs Cuomo, Murphy, Wolf & Witmer be going on trial for DIRECTLY, by written executive orders, causing the deaths of tens of 1000’s “dude”??????????
Why did you put “dude” in quotes so many times? I used it like once. You’re reaching my friend, do the math 530k deaths, 11 million cases. Do the math, don’t forget to subtract the deaths from the cases number because they’re counted in there twice. So 530k is 5% of 10.6 million, exactly 5%, sorry I guess saying over 5 was wrong, but it’s damn close, I don’t know where you’re getting your 1% from lol. Also how many times do I have to say this is NOT a political issue for you guys to understand? All you’re doing is falling on your sword.
Why do you intellectually “superior” indoctrinated activist millennials continue to completely ignore the “Science” that doesn’t support your propagandist agendas??????? Do I have to hold your hand and guide you to the MANY sources of Covid “death rate” math. You WANT the death rate as high as possible to play politics with it rather than be thankful that it is so low. AND in your “response” WHY would you completely IGNORE the FACTS that the death rate that you are so dam focused on would be HALF of what it is in America IF the DEMOCRAT Govs didn’t order the COLLOSAL FAIL of sending Covid positive assisted living patients BACK into their Nursing Home & LTC Care Facilities killing tens of thousands of Grandma & Grandpa. So using YOUR propaganda “stats” the death rate would’ve been 2.5% or less IF the Criminal DEMOCRAT Govs did their friggin job based on KNOWN “science”. BTW the activist propagandist “Journos” at the #Orangemanbad NYTimes had an article recently of about 43% of “Death count” was from INSIDE Assisted Living Facilities if you think it’s “a right wing conspiracy” to point out the facts. But I won’t hold your intellectually superior hand to find the article.
Michael, you’re not even saying anything anymore, you’re just shouting random nonsense. I literally gave you hard numbers, they’re not provided by a news outlet either, those are the John Hopkins University statistics. You can ignore them all you like and scream about politics (which i think is the 4th time now I have to reiterate that this is not a political issue) but you keep coming back to it. The more you put the word science in quotes just makes you look ignorant by the way. There is no science that doesn’t support what I’ve said. I gave you hard numbers, deaths and cases. All you’ve done is scream about democrats…
So, we are learning masks are useless.
actually we are learning the president is useless.
Pretty sure you’re a pathetic loser… an angry cry baby because Jezebel ClintStone lost… she actually lost 2X Steve… and Quid Pro Joe ain’t gonna make it either… enjoy your hate and anger… now that we have Free Healthcare from Barry Soetoro you’re good if your blood pressure goes up in November….
Masks aren’t a miracle, they just reduce the chances, not eliminate them.
Masks are helpful but are not a miracle. Masks are why everyone has not gotten COVID-19.
Close it for 30 days, Clean it, Get all Employees TESTED. Toyota temperature test everyone before entering the building. That didn’t trace a employee vomit all over the floor, STOP Production for clean up, send them for TESTING and Quarantine for 14 days along with everyone who works around them. How many employees are you keeping SAFE? NONE. How many lives will be affected? MANY. Who foots the bill for STOPPING the Line $60,000 a min for 45 mins? GUESS…..
Bring your own hand gel and alcohol wipes… wash your hands and get back to work. No more free $$ for lazy folks who are “afraid” to go to work.. but insist on being paid…. its embarrassing these folks expect to be taken seriously… the UAW is cancer…
@XJUG:
Wow. You really are quite the Corporate Shill aren’t you? Public health and safety can go hang so long as the drones are making money for their masters.
Your job at 7/11 is safe bro… if you’re susceptible, stay home…. if you’re allergic to peanuts avoid them but the world isn’t stopping, you’ve got to take care of yourself. Or go riot because the Chinese Virus doesn’t affect rioters only church attendees….
So your saying you have to be a cult member to get Covid?
I agree the plant needs to stay open with precautions in place. With that being said, this virus is not something to be taken lightly. This is not the flu. I live with a health care pro. She explains it in my mind that the flu went to grade school, and this Covid 19 went to college , got its masters degree, and is still in school. It’s mutating, changing, as we speak. Those are the facts guys. Not scare tactics or political beliefs. The scientists just simply want to keep you and your family’s alive. There’s no conspiracy theories to be spread on this one guys. Grow up., for the sake of our country, our neighbors, our family’s and ourselves, turn off the Fox News, wear your mask in public, wash ur hands, and be big boy’s about this so we can get it under control. Take this seriously, one day at a time, and hopefully soon we will have a vaccine and get back to normal.
So your saying you have to be a cult member to get Covid?
How long y’all going to keep printing these lies!!! DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! Call OSHA and ask them how many positive tests have came out of our plant! We are over 200!? Smh
I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thank you, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your site?