UAW asks Big 3 US automakers for two-week shutdown

The United Auto Workers union has asked General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to shut down their manufacturing operations in the US for two weeks amid the growing coronavirus outbreak in the country.

"The UAW leadership, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations on how to protect ourselves and our communities, requested a two-week shutdown of operations to safeguard our members, our families and our communities," UAW President Rory Gamble wrote in a letter to members shared by the union.

Gamble said the companies were unwilling to implement the request at a meeting Sunday and asked for 48 hours to put together plans to safeguard workers and their facilities. Ford Motor Co. has indicated this week that they are willing to rotate down shifts and are planning to shut down all European operations next week, Gamble said.

The 48-hour window expires Tuesday afternoon, with UAW membership set to meet that evening to evaluate the company's plans.

"These companies will be put on notice that the UAW will use any and all measures to protect our brothers and sisters who are working in their facilities," Gamble said.

A spokesman for GM said the Big 3 US automakers met with union leaders on Sunday and agreed to form a task force to enhance coronavirus protections in plants and warehouses and their work is ongoing.

He said the company believes the plants can be operated safely, but could not provide additional comment until Tuesday evening's meeting.

Ford on Tuesday said it would temporarily suspend vehicle and engine production at its manufacturing sites in continental Europe in response to the growing impact of the coronavirus, effective March 19. The suspension is expected to last a number of weeks, the company said.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said Monday that its subsidiaries FCA Italy and Maserati are suspending production across the majority of their European manufacturing plants through March 27.

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, shipments to automotive end users (independent forgers and producers of vehicles, parts, etc.) comprised 16.796 million st of the 95.28 million st of steel shipments in 2018 [the latest full year], or 17.8% of domestic steel demand. Based on this data, a two-week auto shutdown could remove 646,000 st of finished steel demand from the market.