Ford Motor Company officials confirmed Tuesday night the death of a fourth UAW member diagnosed with COVID-19, this worker based at the Michigan Assembly Plant’s integrated stamping facility. “We are saddened to report that a fourth Ford team member who worked in southeast Michigan passed away after contracting COVID-19,” said company spokeswoman Kelli Felker in a statement.… Continue reading Ford confirms coronavirus death of UAW worker at Michigan Assembly in Wayne
Author: Detroit Free Press Online
Ford CEO Hackett thinks plants may not restart until May, talks furloughs and challenges
CLOSE Ford is not considering restarting production of automobiles anytime before May and even then the timeline is murky, CEO Jim Hackett acknowledged Tuesday. “My gut tells me we’re into May now, but we’re not projecting a date until the president actually comes through with, ‘I want to turn the economy on by x date.’ That’s really the… Continue reading Ford CEO Hackett thinks plants may not restart until May, talks furloughs and challenges
GM turns gutted, shuttered Warren plant into face mask supplier
CLOSE Anne Hernandez of Troy is responding to the shortage of face masks during the Novel Coronovirus threat by showing how she makes a mask. Detroit Free Press General Motors is working with the UAW to call in at least two dozen paid volunteers from its hourly workforce to make millions of face masks at its once-shuttered Warren Transmission… Continue reading GM turns gutted, shuttered Warren plant into face mask supplier
GM salaried workforce must defer pay due to coronavirus impact
CLOSE Filings for unemployment benefits hit a record 3.3 million last week, the Labor Department said showing the coronavirus’s damage to the economy. USA TODAY General Motors CEO Mary Barra will take home one-third less in compensation for at least six months. GM’s 69,000 other salaried workers will defer 20% of their cash compensation for six… Continue reading GM salaried workforce must defer pay due to coronavirus impact
Fiat Chrysler plans April 14 production restart
CLOSE Fiat Chrysler plans a restart of most production on April 14. (Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press) Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which has seen at least three workers die in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, plans to restart production April 14. The company, in a news release Thursday on the restart date, said it is taking “important… Continue reading Fiat Chrysler plans April 14 production restart
Ford warns employees of pay freeze for executives, other possible cuts
CLOSE Filings for unemployment benefits hit a record 3.3 million last week, the Labor Department said showing the coronavirus’s damage to the economy. USA TODAY Ford CEO Jim Hackett notified all employees in writing Thursday morning that the company would freeze executive pay and stall employee merit raises as part of a push to strengthen Ford’s financials and prevent… Continue reading Ford warns employees of pay freeze for executives, other possible cuts
Roush shuts its doors after 2 workers test positive for coronavirus
Roush Enterprises has shuttered its facility in Allen Park after two employees there tested positive for COVID-19/coronavirus. The facility, called B9, is located on Southfield Road. It has been closed since Tuesday, CEO Evan Lyall told employees in a company email. Roush, based in Livonia, engineers and manufactures high performance components for cars often used in street and competitive racing. … Continue reading Roush shuts its doors after 2 workers test positive for coronavirus
FCA distribution center worker in Center Line tests positive for coronavirus
CLOSE The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention former director Tom Frieden said the response to the pandemic is missing guidance from the CDC. USA TODAY Officials at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles sent home the few remaining workers at the MOPAR parts distribution center in Center Line on Wednesday morning after at least one employee tested… Continue reading FCA distribution center worker in Center Line tests positive for coronavirus
Auto suppliers fear financial ruin as GM, Ford and FCA grind to a halt
CLOSE Following Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s “stay home” order to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus, Detroit streets were eerily empty. Detroit Free Press About 4:30 p.m. last Wednesday the employees at auto supplier Dana Inc. in Warren received an unsettling text message from management. The text, obtained by the Free Press read, “We are well… Continue reading Auto suppliers fear financial ruin as GM, Ford and FCA grind to a halt
Bill Ford calms 26,000 workers, thanks them for stamina as disease ravages industry
CLOSE Bill Ford Jr. dialed into the virtual town hall meeting from home in Ann Arbor, and he didn’t sugarcoat the situation. He, like so many people working remotely Thursday to avoid potential exposure to the novel coronavirus, urged his 26,000 employees from around the world watching him on video to remain calm and keep the faith: The 116-year-old company is strong. “As… Continue reading Bill Ford calms 26,000 workers, thanks them for stamina as disease ravages industry