# Automakers mandate masks at all U.S. plants but not requiring vaccines Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-08-03 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: U.S. Automakers Reinstate Mask Mandate Amid Delta Variant Meta Description: Find out why Detroit's Big Three automakers and the UAW are reinstating mask requirements at U.S. facilities in response to CDC guidance changes. URL: https://financedigest.com/automakers-mandate-masks-at-all-u-s-plants-but-not-requiring-vaccineshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-08-03t185204z1lynxmpeh7215ortroptp4india-credit-volkswagen-ford-1736838072890-compressed.jpg) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Detroit’s Big Three automakers and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union said on Tuesday they will reinstate requirements to wear masks at all U.S. plants, offices and warehouses beginning on Wednesday, but are not requiring workers to be vaccinated. The move is in response to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention s (CDC) change in COVID-19 guidance for masks for fully vaccinated people related to the Delta variant, General Motors Co, Ford [Motor Co and Chrysler parent](https://www.financedigest.com/jlr-parent-tata-motors-surges-nearly-20-on-tpg-fundraise-ev-plans.html "JLR parent Tata Motors surges nearly 20% on TPG fundraise, EV plans") Stellantis NV said in a joint statement with the union. [Toyota Motor](https://www.financedigest.com/toyota-motor-to-invest-5-3-billion-in-japan-u-s-for-ev-battery-supply.html "Toyota Motor to invest .3 billion in Japan, U.S. for EV battery supply") Corp said effective Wednesday it will reinstate mask requirements at nearly all U.S. facilities, with the exception of two Michigan facilities that are in counties with moderate transmission rates. Nissan Motor Co also said Tuesday it was reinstating its mask requirements for all U.S. employees. Volkswagen AG said it was requiring masks at U.S. facilities in COVID-19 [hot spots](https://www.financedigest.com/don-your-wellies-for-tour-of-new-development-in-hot-spot-bedford.html "Don Your Wellies For Tour Of New Development In Hot Spot Bedford"), while Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz U.S. unit said it had reinstated mask requirements at U.S. plants late last week. The UAW does not support requiring all workers to be [vaccinated for COVID-19](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-countries-making-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory-2.html "Factbox-Countries making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory") and U.S. automakers have not mandated vaccines. The [union and automakers are strongly encouraging workers](https://www.financedigest.com/volkswagens-mexico-factory-workers-reject-union-pay-deal.html "Volkswagen’s Mexico factory workers reject union pay deal") to get vaccinated. “We are urging all UAW members and their families to get vaccinated. The science is telling us very clearly that the only way to get back to normal is to reach a [heightened level](https://www.financedigest.com/global-political-volatility-is-leading-to-heightened-levels-of-political-violence-and-political-risk.html "Global political volatility is leading to heightened levels of political violence and political risk") of immunity,” UAW President Ray Curry told members in a letter Tuesday. However, we also know that for some, there are religious and [health reasons for not getting vaccinated.”](https://www.financedigest.com/french-vaccination-centres-vandalised-as-health-pass-is-introduced.html "French vaccination centres vandalised as health pass is introduced") The CDC said last week fully vaccinated people should wear masks indoors in public spaces in places with substantial or high [COVID-19 community transmission rates](https://www.financedigest.com/how-the-us-and-europes-covid-19-responses-have-affected-exchange-rates.html "How the US and Europe’s COVID-19 Responses Have Affected Exchange Rates"). The CDC said on Monday that almost 80% of U.S. counties are now at those levels. In June, the U.S. automakers and UAW announced that fully vaccinated workers at their U.S. [factories would not have to wear masks on the job](https://www.financedigest.com/younger-chinese-are-spurning-factory-jobs-that-power-the-economy.html "Younger Chinese are spurning factory jobs that power the economy") beginning on July 12. Numerous automakers [operating in the United States](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-brings-train-operator-transpennine-under-temporary-state-control.html "UK brings train operator TransPennine under temporary state control") had already begun lifting pandemic mask mandates as cases declined. Other companies as well as federal, state and local governments are putting more pressure on individuals to get vaccinated. New York [City on Tuesday said it will require proof of vaccination for people engaged in indoor activities](https://www.financedigest.com/active-living-inwelwyn-garden-city.html "Active Living In Welwyn Garden City") such as dining, working out in a gym, or seeing a show. Meat packer Tyson Foods said it will require workers to get [COVID vaccinations](https://www.financedigest.com/fda-advisers-back-the-same-covid-vaccine-for-initial-shots-boosters.html "FDA advisers back the same COVID vaccine for initial shots, boosters"), joining companies including Walt Disney Co and Walmart Inc in instituting such a requirement for some parts of their workforces. U.S. President Joe Biden has ordered workers at federal agencies to get [vaccinated or submit to regular testing](https://www.financedigest.com/france-confirms-bird-flu-vaccination-after-favourable-tests.html "France confirms bird flu vaccination after favourable tests"). (Reporting by David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Joe White in Detroit; Editing by David Gregorio and David Holmes) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---