The United Auto Workers are in discussions with Detroit automakers about resuming production at their plants. Union officials say they fear for their members’ safety.
Automakers have been churning-out protective medical equipment to help health care workers fight the COVID-19 virus.
But the companies are also losing billions of dollars as their vehicle production facilities remain closed.
Fiat Chrysler officials say they plan to “progressively” re-start production at U.S. and Canadian factories next week.
Ford and General Motors have not yet stated a specific start date.
Last week, however, United Auto Workers officials said in a statement that not enough testing had been done to ensure the workplaces were safe.
Fiat Chrysler, for one, counters that it will use protocols put in place when auto plants recently re-opened in China.
That includes redesigning work stations to create social distancing and extensively sanitizing factories.
Automakers said they will also use various means to test whether an employee is healthy enough to work.