Ford plans to reopen some coronavirus-shuttered plants in coming weeks

New York (CNN Business)Ford is considering reopening a number of US and Mexican plants in the coming weeks that were closed because of the coronavirus outbreak. But the United Auto Workers union is expressing concerns about that plan. Ford (F) says it plans to reopen one shift of its Hermosillo, Mexico, plant on April 6, and four of its eight US assembly plants on April 14, two days after Easter. The plants due to reopen are its Dearborn, Michigan, Truck Plant, Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, its Kansas City Assembly Plant's Transit line and its Ohio Assembly Plant in suburban Cleveland.

It also plans to reopen eight stamping, engine, transmission and component lines needed to supply those plants. "We will continue to assess public health conditions as well as supplier readiness and will adjust plans if necessary," said Ford's statement. Ford and other automakers have been doing a deep clean of its plants during its shutdown, but the UAW, which had urged Ford and the other automakers to shut production in the interest of worker safety, voiced concerns about Ford's announcement. "The UAW continues to review with great caution and concern decisions being made about restarting workplaces, especially at advanced dates," said UAW President Rory Gamble in a statement.

"These decisions should be informed by data and where each state is on the contagion curve. The UAW maintains that strict CDC guidelines need to be adhered to at all worksites and that prior to reopening sufficient data and protections are in place to ensure the safety of our members, their families and the public. " "The only guideline in a boardroom should be management asking themselves, 'Would I send my family -- my own son or daughter -- into that plant and be 100% certain they are safe? '" he said.

Ford and other automakers announced on March 18 that they would shut production due to the outbreak. Tuesday Ford announced it would join with 3M and General Electric to help make needed ventilators to help hospitals treat coronavirus patients. But it's not currently planning to build the ventilators at its plants.

“Rival General Motors (GM) said it can't give any details about when it plans to reopen its plants.”