FCA The Hardest Hit Of Detroit’s Big-Three Auto Makers With The COVID-19 Virus:
14 FCA Employees Have Passed Away From The Virus...
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has confirmed that another Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) employee from the company’s Warren Truck Assembly Plant (WTAP) has passed away from complications with the COVID-19 (or Coronavirus) on Monday. The COVID-19 virus has hit the Metro Detroit area hard in the past few weeks and brings the total to four of the WTAP facilities employee force who have passed away due to the virus.
“With deep regret, we report the death of a UAW Local 140 member who passed away yesterday. As we all stay safe, our thoughts are with the family and coworkers of our member lost to this national pandemic,” according to a statement Monday by UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg in the Detroit Free Press.
WTAP currently builds the 2020 Ram 1500 Classic Quad Cab and Crew Cab pickups. Production at the plant has been stopped since March 18th. This includes the construction of a massive expansion at the WTAP facility, which will also manufacturer the upcoming Jeep® Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer and their electrified counterparts in early 2021. Nearly, 2600 employees work at the WTAP facility on two shifts. It is expected an additional 1,400 new jobs will be added at the plant within the year.
FCA has been the hardest hit among the Detroit “Big Three” by the virus. According to reports from the Detroit Free Press, a total of 14 of the company’s employees have died from the virus. Of the 14, 13 were union employees and 1 was a non-union employee. The Free Press also reports that the Ford Motor Company has reported 8 deaths within its organization as of Monday, while General Motors has had cases among its workers but has yet to report any of its staff passing away from the virus.
Of the 14 of the FCA workers who have passed away because of the COVID-19 virus since March 22, they have worked at the following facilities…
- (4) from the Warren Truck Assembly Plant (WTAP) in Warren, Michigan
- (3) from the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) in Sterling Heights, Michigan
- (2) from the Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Center Line, Michigan
- (1) from the FCA Transport Division in Sterling Heights, Michigan
- (1) from the Warren Stamping Plant in Warren, Michigan
- (1) from the FCA Chelsea Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan
- (1) from the Kokomo Transmission Plant in Kokomo, Indiana
- (1) from the FCA US Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan*
* Non-Union Employee
“FCA continues to make the health and well-being of its employees a top priority. With that in mind, FCA intends to progressively restart its U.S. and Canadian manufacturing facilities beginning May 4th. The status of production at FCA’s Mexico operations will be the subject of a separate announcement,” FCA said in an announcement on April 6th.
