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.
“It is a tragic reminder that the coronavirus crisis is everywhere and requires the attention of all of us. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and co-workers during this difficult time,” she said. “Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our workforce, dealers, customers and communities. We will continue to follow the guidance from global health experts to do all we can to keep our people healthy.”
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The company declined to provide details about the hourly worker out of respect for the family, Felker said.
Brian Rothernberg, UAW spokesman, said, “We regret that another of our union has fallen to this pandemic. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and co-workers at this time.”
Ford and UAW officials had previously confirmed deaths at the Dearborn Diversified Manufacturing Plant in Dearborn, Dearborn Stamping and the Ford Data Center in Dearborn. All four Ford deaths have been confirmed since March 28.
In addition to the deaths of Ford UAW workers, the union has confirmed that seven Fiat Chrysler Automobiles employees have died, including one non-UAW employee and one worker in Kokomo, Indiana. The union is notified when their workers may have been exposed.
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Michigan reported its first death related to the novel coronavirus on March 18 and the official total now stands at 259, according to state health officials.
Contact Phoebe Wall Howard at 313-222-6512or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid. Read more on Ford and sign up for our autos newsletter.
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