United Auto Workers union sought two-week U.S. auto plant shutdown over coronavirus

Reuters

Published Mar 17, 2020 01:04PM ET

United Auto Workers union sought two-week U.S. auto plant shutdown over coronavirus

(Reuters) - The United Auto Workers said Tuesday it had asked Detroit's Big Three workers to shutdown all U.S. plants for two weeks in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

UAW President Rory Gamble in a letter to members seen by Reuters said General Motors Co (NYSE:GM), Ford Motor (NYSE:F) Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV were not willing to do so and instead asked "for 48 hours to put together plans to safeguard workers in their facilities." The UAW said that period expires later today and the union will "evaluating what the companies submit today."