A spokesperson from the United Auto Workers Union (UAW) yesterday confirmed that two auto plant workers from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) lost their battle to the covid-19 disease as the outbreak begins to take its toll on the US car industry.
One of the employees worked at FCA’s Ram pickup plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, while the other was employed at a plant in Kokomo, Indiana.
It is unclear if they are the same employees who tested positive earlier this month at the two aforementioned plants.
"I can confirm that two UAW members who had tested positive, one at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant and one in Kokomo, at the Kokomo Transmission Plant (in Indiana), have passed. Both worked for Fiat Chrysler," said UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg.
UAW President Rory Gamble said in a statement, “I want to extend sincere sympathies from myself and the entire International Executive Board for the families of two of our members, one at FCA Kokomo, IN, and one at FCA Sterling Heights, MI, who have lost their lives to this virus. This is a terrible tragedy for our entire UAW family. This is a terrible tragedy for our entire UAW family.”
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said, "Out of respect for the privacy of the families and those impacted by this situation, we are declining to comment."
