DETROIT (Reuters) – The Detroit Three automakers have agreed to shut down their U.S. plants to stop the spread of coronavirus, bowing to pressure from the union representing about 150,000 hourly workers at those facilities, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
Details of the shutdowns by General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) will be announced later on Wednesday, said the person on condition of anonymity.
The United Auto Workers asked the automakers to reconsider their position on Wednesday, a day after the sides agreed to slow production at U.S. plants and limit the number of workers on the job at one time to prevent the spread of the virus, said the source who asked not to be identified.
The UAW’s new request for the closure of the Detroit Three automakers’ U.S. plants came after Honda Motor Co Ltdsaid on Wednesday it was temporarily shutting its North American plants for six days because of the anticipated decline in consumer demand.
Reporting by Ben Klayman, additional reporting by David SHepardson in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Alistair Bell and Richard Chang