so far neither the union nor the automakers have announced a dealdetroit detroits automakers and the united auto workers uaw union are in talks about safely restarting us production halted by the coronavirus pandemic but local union leaders said on monday any workers who feel sick must be allowed to self quarantine without losing pay so far neither the union nor the automakers have announced a deal but the detroit automakers all are aiming to restart at least some us assembly plants in early may virtually all us automotive production ground to a halt in march as the number of covid19 infections grew rapidly advt the safety practices and sick leave policies the automakers and the uaw agree to would offer a template for auto suppliers and potentially other manufacturing industries uaw president rory gamble wrote on friday the union has made it clear to the car companies that adequate testing for covid19 is key to restarting production and we must create an environment where workers are comfortable to selfreport symptoms and selfquarantine without penalty bernie ricke president of united auto workers local 600 which represents workers ford motor cos dearborn michigan pickup truck plant and at a number of auto suppliers said automakers and suppliers have assured him they will allow selfquarantine without sanctions theyll have a policy that if people arent feeling well they should just stay home ricke told reuters thats the message ive got from all of them theyre going to protect people automakers and the uaw said they were unable to comment on the negotiations dennis earl president of uaw local 14 which represents more than 1500 workers at gms toledo transmission plant said discussions also have included providing enough face masks and shields for workers until they have enough to provide a clean new mask every day for everybody i would oppose any opening of the plant earl said advt a general motors co spokesman said the automaker was in discussions with the union on a wide range of issues to ensure worker safety gm has begun producing protective equipment for distribution to hospitals and its own staff bruce baumhower president of uaw local 12 which represents around 11000 workers including about 6000 at a fiat chrysler automobiles nv jeep plant in toledo said he was relying on the uaws health and safety department to negotiate terms for reopening the calendar is not going to have anything to do with when we start up baumhower said its going to be when the conditions are safe talks over restarting two ford plants making suvs and pickup trucks in louisville kentucky have included hanging welding curtains between workers who have to work less than six feet 183 m apart and keeping them apart at break times said todd dunn president of uaw local 862 which represents more than 12000 hourly workers at the plants its a dynamic situation and it changes daily dunn said each day we see a new plan ford has targeted a may