Stock Groups

Ford asks union and salaried employees to submit vaccination status

[ad_1]

Ford CEO Jim Farley at the company’s new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center on May 18, 2021 ahead of remarks from President Joe Biden.

Michael Wayland / CNBC

DETROIT – Ford Motor is asking its hourly and salaried employees in the U.S. to submit their Covid-19 vaccination status by next Friday, as the automaker prepares to comply with mandatory testing or vaccination plans announced earlier this month by President Joe Biden.

For salaried workers, the submission is mandatory. However, it’s voluntary for employees of the United Auto Workers union. CNBC also confirmed the submission is required for Ford agency contractors.

Monique Brentley from Ford stated in an email that “this will assist our efforts to conform with federal COVID-19 immunization requirements, and, assess our overall employee population in order determine the appropriate measures to support employees safety.”

Brian Rothenberg, UAW spokesperson confirmed that the process was voluntary and open to all members.

According to an employee submission form, the information will be used to aid Ford in its “efforts complying with legal requirements and to help determine appropriate steps to support employees safety.”

Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO stated that vaccinations were “mission critical” to the safety and well-being of employees. Farley confirmed that the entire company’s leadership and all medical personnel are currently vaccinated.

“We’re really excited about the mandate,” Farley said Tuesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “We’ll work with our union partners, it requires collective bargaining in some cases … We’ll work through this.”

Farley said he has spoken with new UAW President Ray Curry about the company’s plans.

Curry claimed that Curry did not intend for the company to mandate Covid-19 vaccines upon its 400,000 members prior to Biden’s announcement. He stated that any employer who wants to make mandatory vaccinations will need to engage in collective bargaining. Biden rolled out a plan Sept. 9 For companies that have 100 employees or more, mandating vaccines to their employees for federal contractors.

Curry sent a Monday letter to its members that was obtained by CNBC. Curry stated that the union has been waiting for guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on the new rules. Curry stated that the guidelines “will likely be applicable to many, or even most, of the private employers”, with UAW-represented workers.

Ford’s request follows General Motors, which began last month requiring all U.S. salaried employees to report their Covid-19 vaccination status.

Automakers such as GM and Ford have not required workers to get vaccinated, but they have implemented safety protocols and procedures at facilities across the globe.

[ad_2]