General Motors Plant Employees To Continue Wearing Face Masks For Now
12Sponsored Links
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revised its guidelines on face masks, indicating that fully vaccinated individuals can safely remove their masks in certain situations previously deemed unsafe. However, General Motors plant employees will continue to be required to wear face masks, at least for now.
In a recent statement, the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union, which represents nearly 50,000 GM workers, in conjunction with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis comprising the COVID-19 Joint Task Force, announced that face masks would still be required while on the job, citing “an abundance of caution.”
“The COVID-19 Task Force met and after reviewing the CDC guidelines and OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] standards, decided it is best for worker safety to wait for expected updated OSHA workplace standards and consult health experts to maintain safety and uniformity as we transition through the pandemic,” the statement reads.
A policy reevaluation planned in two weeks’ time.
“We know that masks can be uncomfortable, but we ask that everyone comply,” the statement adds.
In addition to requiring face masks for General Motors workers, the COVID-19 Joint Task Force is also requiring face masks for workers at Ford and Stellantis.
Additionally, workers are encouraged to get vaccinated. “We encourage everyone to roll up their sleeve so we can move more quickly toward continuing to relax our protocols,” the statement reads.
Back in March, General Motors announced that workers in the state of Texas would continue to wear face masks, despite an executive order from Texas Governor Greg Abbott rolling back the state’s face mask mandate.
Last year, General Motors issued a 40-page handbook to employees outlining best practices in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The handbook lists face masks and other PPE, as well as temperature screening, a COVID-19 symptom questionnaire, workplace sanitization, and social distancing practices.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more General Motors-related COVID-19 news, General Motors production news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Good grief. Another company smarter than science.
Eddie, you have to think it’s better to be safe than sorry. If they were to have closed the plant, from relaxing guidelines and restrictions you would have said the exact opposite.
Science says it’s safe to take COVID vaccines. Shouldn’t you be better safe than sorry and wait a year before being vaccinated?
Picking and choosing parts of scientific consensus based on feelings corrupts it and makes it invalid.
Woke agenda
If you have the vaccine there is no reason to wear a mask. None. If you been in a plant you know it is massive, and is almost like being outdoors. Air is constantly moving. It is silly to keep wearing masks.
The vaccine does NOT reduce your chances of catching Covid to zero.
The best protection is a combo of the vaccine, masks, social distancing, not congregating, and hand washing.
And even then, the risk is STILL not zero.
So it’s wise to continue all the safety measures coupled with getting the vaccine.
Sorry Eddiedi but as a GM employee I think they are right on the money here! As someone with individual health challenges I continue to wear my mask in public even if I don’t have to.
As long as the “safe” does not create more issues then if “sorry” was done. There are many side effects caused by shutting down the world for months, etc.
Won’t matter if this company can’t secure semiconductors for all of its models. Not everyone wants to buy one of three BOF vehicles. Some of us want vehicles like the CT4, CT5, and camaro. Last time I checked folks are still waiting for them!
CDC…no masks needed for vaccinated people. White House…ditto. Workers at GM plants…we know it’s uncomfortable and the CDC says not necessary, but if you want to continue receiving a paycheck than get down, kiss our ring, and wear the stupid mask. No mention if masks required at Board of Directors meetings or on the company yacht.
It’s their company.
They can run it as they see fit.
If a worker doesn’t like it, they’re free to leave.
That kind of rebukes unions!