By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) – Detroit’s Big Three automakers said on Thursday they will allow autoworkers to stop wearing masks at workplaces where U.S. health officials have said it is safe to do so.
General Motors Co (GM.N) Ford Motor Co (F.N), Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV (STLA.MI) and the United Auto Workers union said in a joint statement they would adopt the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance allowing workers at U.S. facilities to not wear masks regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, if those facilities are not in high-risk counties.
Nearly all of Michigan, where the Big Three automakers have many of their plants are in areas where the CDC has deemed it safe to take off masks, including in the counties home to the headquarters of GM, Ford and Stellantis North America.
Other states home to many plants like Ohio and Illinois are also mostly deemed safe to drop masks, according to the CDC.
Last fall, Ford and Stellantis both required its U.S. salaried non-union workers to be vaccinated to seek exemptions.
GM, Ford and Stellantis all mandated vaccines for all autoworkers in Canada.
In August 2021, the U.S. automakers reinstated requirements to wear masks at all U.S. plants, offices and warehouses after a surge in COVID cases.
