Unvaccinated Employees “Cannot Work at American Airlines” Due to Federal Mandate

American Airlines executives told employees on Friday that they will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to remain employed due to the White House’s mandate for federal contractors.

In a letter to employees, the company said that due to its agreements with the U.S. government, the company will need to comply with the White House vaccination mandate for all federal contractors and “that all members from the United States-based team and some international crew members [must] be vaccinated, without a regular replacement test being provided.

“While we are still working on the details of the federal requirements, it is clear that team members who choose to remain unvaccinated will not be able to work at American Airlines,” said the letter from CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom.

Airlines companies

United Airlines says more than 99% of employees complied with vaccine requirements

More than 99% of United Airlines employees have complied with the company’s requirement that everyone receive a COVID-19 vaccine or seek medical or religious exemption, the company told employees on Tuesday. Chicago-based United has been one of the most aggressive companies in the country to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for employees as the global pandemic stretches into its 19th month. As the deadline for employees to submit proof of vaccination passed Monday, the company said only 593 employees had not complied and the company would start proceedings to fire those workers in the coming days.

The letter came just hours after conversations between White House officials and airline officials who have yet to pledge to demand a vaccine for employees, according to a Reuters report. A spokesperson for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines confirmed the call with the White House on Friday.

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines resisted a company-wide mandate for vaccines and instead opted for cash and vacation incentives to encourage employees to get vaccinated.

But on Friday, JetBlue and Alaska Airlines issued similar statements to employees. Earlier this week, Chicago-based United said it is expected to lay off around 250 employees after the vaccine verification submission deadline has passed. About 99% of its employees had either submitted an audit or requested a religious or personal exemption.

In the memo, American Airlines said employees could request a waiver based on “disability or sincere religious beliefs.”

“We have always advocated that all members of the American Airlines team – and all eligible people around the world – should be vaccinated, and we appreciate the tens of thousands of team members who did. during our incentive program, ”said the memo from American. “For colleagues who haven’t, we realize this federal mandate can be difficult, but it’s what’s required of our company, and we will comply.”

The White House issued a mandate in early September that all federal contractors should have all their employees vaccinated or request an exemption. The Biden administration also said companies with more than 100 employees could face fines of $ 14,500 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for each case of an unvaccinated employee.

But many companies are waiting for more advice from the government, or perhaps to see if a legal challenge would overturn the warrant.

At the time the rule was announced, American and Southwest said they would comply with all federal rules.

American Airlines has contracts with the federal government, including Department of Defense freight contracts, participation in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, and the City Pair program, which offers discounted air fares to federal employees between certain markets.

In a note to employees earlier this week, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said the company was “waiting to learn more about President Biden’s COVID action plan,” although he said that he didn’t believe it was up to him as CEO to mandate vaccines.

“So while I don’t think I have the right to force people to get vaccinated, the government does – they have the legal authority to require vaccinations,” Kelly wrote. “Individual freedoms do not trump the common good, and this precedent was set over a century ago.

“So at Southwest Airlines, we may be compelled by federal law to require that employees be vaccinated, and we will be prepared for it,” Kelly said.

Airlines companies

American Airlines and Southwest pilots say vaccine mandate could lead to vacation shortages

The Allied Pilots Association, which represents 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, sent the White House and congressional leaders a letter on Friday warning that carriers could have “massive layoffs of unvaccinated pilots.” whether the White House implements the announced plans to require COVID -19 vaccinations for federal contractors and businesses with 100 or more employees. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Union issued a similar warning.