WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Detroit’s Massive Three automakers mentioned on Thursday they may enable autoworkers to cease sporting masks at workplaces the place U.S. well being officers have mentioned it’s secure to take action.
Common Motors Co Ford Motor Co, Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV and the United Auto Employees union mentioned in a joint assertion they’d undertake the brand new Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) steering permitting staff at U.S. services to not put on masks no matter COVID-19 vaccination standing, if these services aren’t in high-risk counties.
The CDC mentioned Thursday that 93% of Individuals reside in counties that aren’t high-risk.
Almost all of Michigan, the place the Massive Three automakers have a lot of their vegetation are in areas the place the CDC has deemed it secure to take off masks, together with within the counties house to the headquarters of GM, Ford and Stellantis North America.
Different states house to many vegetation like Ohio and Illinois are additionally largely deemed secure to drop masks, based on the CDC.
The Massive Three, in contrast to another main producers, by no means mandated vaccines for hundreds of unionized U.S. staff.
Final fall, Ford and Stellantis each required its U.S. salaried non-union staff to be vaccinated to hunt exemptions.
GM, Ford and Stellantis all mandated vaccines for all autoworkers in Canada.
In August 2021, the U.S. automakers reinstated necessities to put on masks in any respect U.S. vegetation, places of work and warehouses after a surge in COVID instances.
The CDC and different international public well being businesses have suggested sporting masks to stop the unfold of COVID however some have raised questions on their efficacy. Masks mandates have been opposed by numerous authorities officers and individuals who see the mandates as a authorities overreach.
Reporting by David Shepardson; Enhancing by Sandra Maler and Christian Schmollinger
