The union that represents laid-off workers at GE Aviation wants to be called back to work to build ventilators.
GE announced a week ago that it would cut 10% of the staff at GE Aviation, which makes jet engines. The company said that it would also cut hours for half of its maintenance, repair and overhaul employees for 90 days.
The Communications Workers of America announced Monday that union leaders would march on GE headquarters urging the company to use the affected employees to make much needed ventilators to help battle the coronavirus outbreak.
“These union members have the skills required to make the ventilators that states are desperate for,” said the union. It said that GE should leverage the experience of its GE Healthcare division to use its own manufacturing capacity to address the ventilator crisis.
Some major manufacturers, such as General Motors and Ford, have announced they are partnering with ventilator makers to try to increase production of thousands of ventilators that will be needed to save the lives of some of those those stricken with the virus.
GE Aviation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.