DETROIT — The UAW has set a Tuesday evening deadline to decide whether it is satisfied with the actions taken by the Detroit 3 to protect workers from the coronavirus pandemic or if it will seek stronger measures.

It’s unclear whether the union might try to force the automakers to halt production. In Canada, the Detroit 3 and the union Unifor formed a joint task force — similar to the one automakers formed with the UAW — to address coronavirus safety issues.

UAW President Rory Gamble said in a letter to members and staff Tuesday afternoon that the union requested a preemptive two-week shutdown based on World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. He said the automakers “were not willing to implement this request” and asked for 48 hours to come up with a plan.

“The 48-hour window is up this afternoon,” Gamble said in the letter. “We will be evaluating what the companies submit today and there will be a meeting this evening at 6 p.m., where the task force will review plans for the safety and health of all members, their families and our communities.”

The union and automakers on Sunday formed a joint task force to help coordinate efforts on how to safeguard workers during the virus outbreak. A number of union local leaders have voiced support for an immediate two-week shutdown.

Gamble said if the union is not satisfied that workers are being adequately protected, it “will take this conversation to the next level,” without elaborating on what that could mean.

There was no immediate comment from the Detroit 3 automakers, although one company spokesman noted the UAW-Detroit 3 task force was set to meet to discuss the situation later Tuesday.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, in a statement, said it “has already implemented extensive protocols to ensure the health and welfare of our workforce. We are continuing to carefully monitor the situation and are making improvements as needed. As a member of the joint UAW-GM-Ford-FCA COVID-19 Coronavirus Task Force, we appreciate the opportunity to share best practices across the industry.”

Said Gamble: “These companies will be put on notice that the UAW will use any and all measures to protect our brothers and sisters who are working in their facilities.” 

“And make no mistake, we have powerful allies who have stepped up to help us. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, despite what you might have heard in some recent erroneous reports, was instrumental in assisting us in bringing the Big 3 to the table, as was U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell.”

More closures?

As of Tuesday afternoon, no plants in the U.S. or Canada had shut down in connection with the pandemic, aside from some brief disruptions.

Volkswagen Group of America closed its Chattanooga plant Monday for cleaning and to help employees find child care while many schools in the area are closed. Workers at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ minivan plant in Windsor, Ontario, walked off the job for about 24 hours last week after a worker who might have been exposed to the virus began a self-quarantine.

Tesla’s plant in Fremont, Calif., continued running Tuesday, despite a shelter-at-home order issued for six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. And an FCA transmission plant in Kokomo, Ind., stayed online after a worker there tested positive for the COVID-19 disease.

Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday said it would temporarily halt production at its plants in continental Europe.

Canada task force

The Detroit Three and Unifor said late Tuesday they are forming a joint task force to implement enhanced protections for manufacturing and warehouse employees at all three companies during the global coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement came just hours after Unifor Local 88 called for a two-week shutdown of General Motors’ CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, where members assemble the Chevrolet Equinox. Local 88 Unit 1 chairperson Mike Van Boekel told Automotive News Canada that he called on GM to put the roughly 2,500 workers at the CAMI plant on layoff beginning March 23 for a minimum of two weeks.

The task force will consist of Unifor President Jerry Dias; Scott Bell, president and managing director, GM Canada; Dean Stoneley, president and CEO, Ford of Canada;  and David Buckingham, chairman, president and CEO, FCA Canada.

In a news release, General Motors Canada said that preventative actions currently under review at the three companies’ Canadian auto facilities include visitor screening, increased cleaning and sanitizing of common areas and touch points, safety protocols for people with potential exposure and those who exhibit flu-like symptoms.

“The task force members today discussed progress with additional safety practices and actions including break and cleaning schedules, health and safety education, health screening, food service and any other areas designed to improve protections for employees,” GM Canada said in the statement. “Unifor and the three Canadian automakers are in continuous communication at the national and plant levels to ensure they take appropriate actions and continue to follow the advice of medical staff and experts to help keep workers and their families protected from the COVID-19 virus. They are also maintaining ongoing communication with government and health officials at all levels.”

John Irwin, Greg Layson and Vince Bond contributed to this report.