United Airlines Mandates Staff Vaccination in Airline First
Following a number of private U.S. industries over the past few weeks, United Airlines became the first in its industry to require all employees to be inoculated against COVID-19.
Photo Credit: Videvo.net
The airline’s 67,000 employees in the United States must receive a vaccine either prior to October 25th or five weeks after a vaccine receives full Food and Drug Administration approval. The marker is based on whatever happens first.
Today, United CEO Scotty Kirby informed staff as coronavirus numbers continue to increase nationwide due to the delta variant.
Image Credit: Disney
Already, the Walt Disney Co., Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Tyson Foods and many other companies put similar policies in place.
Source: Fortune
Responding to United
However, just yesterday, the Air Line Pilots Association made sure to voice their thoughts on mandatory vaccines.
If we could bottle these #smiles to greet you all, we would! Thank you, First Officer Brooks, for sharing your little ones with us, who are clearly #proud of their #pilot dad! #DeltaPilotsAreReady and we are happy to #WelcomeYouBack with #Smiles all around! pic.twitter.com/nnBf8IcPkM
— Delta Air Lines Pilots (@Delta_Pilots) August 6, 2021
“ALPA’s position remains the same: Whether a pilot elects to be vaccinated, or not, should be between the pilot and their medical provider, while any proposed vaccine mandate affecting our pilots would be subject to collective bargaining,” said ALPA President Eric Ferguson in a letter to APA members, according to NPR.
Image: Orlando International Airport
Futhermore, Ferguson did mention that over 60% of pilots already received the vaccination. He specifically cited that a plethora of scientific data support the use of the jab to limit the spread and impact of the pandemic.
😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/a2gLV1iBpl
— United Airlines (@united) August 6, 2021
It does not look like all aircraft companies will follow United’s lead. American Airline CEO Doug Parker, for example, already stated that the company would not be “putting mandates in place,” according to the New York Times.
Image: OrlandoAirports.net
Though not specifically requiring vaccinations of all employees, Delta Air Lines along with United already require proof of vaccination from new hires as well.
Feature Image Credit: @United/Twitter
