BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo area auto manufacturing operations are quietly getting ready to kick into gear next week. The Tonawanda Engine Plant and General Motors Components in Lockport have the green light to restart on Monday, May 18.
But it won’t be the same auto plant that workers left in March.
Anyone showing symptoms will be directed immediately to the on-site medical team.
“Although the protocols are new and different, it’s unbelievable how quickly people adapt to new norms,” said Glynn who oversaw operations at the automaker’s Kokomo, Indiana plant in April for the production of ventilators. “They understand that they’re protecting themselves as well as their coworkers. Everyone adapts to the new normal, or abnormal, and we get on with what we do.” Auto workers are used to wearing safety glasses.
The employee break room and locker room will see changes. “We have to learn new social habits,” said Glynn. “We tend to want to sit next to one another to share a meal or cup of coffee. We’re adding social cues in all of our common areas to remind people to stay six feet from one another. We’ve even removed chairs and have seating that is a minimum of six feet apart.
A small portion of the Tonawanda Engine plant workforce is coming back initially. They plan to scale up based on safe practices. “It’s not like flipping a switch. It’s important we get this right. We’ll start slowly and cautiously to make sure everyone learns new habits, then we can focus on building great engines for our customers,” said Glynn.