General Motors is not going to require workers to obtain Covid-19 vaccinations to return to bodily workplace places or proceed working in manufacturing crops, the corporate instructed CNBC on Friday.

The Detroit automaker joins crosstown rival Ford Motor in confirming plans for voluntary vaccinations, despite the fact that the Equal Employment Alternative Fee permits employers to require workers to get vaccinated.

United Auto Staff President Rory Gamble on Friday mentioned he would not consider any of the union’s 400,000 members needs to be pressured to obtain Covid-19 vaccinations, however he encourages them to take action.

“I consider it is essential for as many members as attainable to be vaccinated,” Gamble mentioned in an emailed assertion. “That mentioned, identical to the coverage over flu pictures there might be some that over spiritual beliefs, or medical historical past or private beliefs may have issues about being vaccinated and so I do not consider it needs to be obligatory.”

Gamble, whose feedback had been first reported Friday by Automotive News, mentioned the UAW is working with corporations, together with the Detroit automakers, to make Covid-19 vaccines available to workers.

The Detroit automakers have every mentioned they’re making preparations for worker distribution however have declined to launch particular plans. Reuters final month reported that Ford ordered a dozen ultra-cold freezers to retailer the vaccine being produced by Pfizer.

“We plan to make COVID vaccines out there to our workers on a voluntary foundation,” Ford mentioned in an emailed assertion. “Our preliminary emphasis is on important staff at our manufacturing crops, warehouses, workplace-dependent workers and workers who’re required to journey.”

Fiat Chrysler mentioned it has “assembled a cross-functional staff, together with medical professionals, that’s learning the simplest strategy to distributing vaccines,” nevertheless it has not introduced whether or not being vaccinated could be obligatory for workers.

It might be shocking for Fiat Chrysler to interrupt sample from its Detroit counterparts, particularly relating to UAW members. The Detroit automakers mixed make use of practically 550,000 folks globally, together with roughly 153,000 UAW members.

Mandating vaccinations for staff might be considered as contradictory to claims by the Detroit automakers that there was low spreading of Covid-19 of their crops. Automakers implemented safety and social distancing protocols once they reopened factories that had been shuttered for about two months this spring to gradual the unfold of the illness.

Gamble additionally instructed Automotive Information that he plans to be vaccinated “on public TV” if attainable as a was to encourage members to get vaccinated.