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Southwest Airlines has scrapped a plan to put unvaccinated employees who have applied for but haven’t received a religious or medical exemption on unpaid leave starting by a federal deadline in December.

Southwest Airlines and American Airlines are among the carriers that are federal contractors and subject to a Biden administration requirement that their employees are vaccinated against Covid-19 by Dec. 8 unless they are exempt for medical or religious reasons. Rules for federal contractors are stricter than those expected for large companies, which will allow for regular Covid testing as an alterative to a vaccination.

Executives at both carriers in recent days have tried to reassure employees about job security under the mandate, urging them to apply for exemptions if they can’t get vaccinated for medical or for a sincerely held religious belief. The airlines are expected to face more questions about the mandate when they report quarterly results Thursday morning. Pilots labor unions have sought to block the mandates or sought alternatives like regular testing.

Southwest’s senior vice president of operations and hospitality, Steve Goldberg, and Julie Weber, vice president and chief people officer, wrote to staff on Friday that if employees’ requests for an exemption haven’t been approved by Dec. 8, they could continue to work while following mask and distancing guidelines until the request has been reviewed.

Southwest Airlines has scrapped a plan to put unvaccinated employees who have applied for but haven’t received a religious or medical exemption on unpaid leave starting by a federal deadline in December. Southwest Airlines and American Airlines are among the carriers that are federal contractors and subject to a Biden administration requirement that their employees are vaccinated against Covid-19 by Dec. 8 unless they are exempt for medical or religious reasons. Rules for federal contractors are stricter than those expected for large companies, which will allow for regular Covid testing as an alterative to a vaccination. Executives at both carriers in recent days have tried to reassure employees about job security under the mandate, urging them to apply for exemptions if they can’t get vaccinated for medical or for a sincerely held religious belief. The airlines are expected to face more questions about the mandate when they report quarterly results Thursday morning. Pilots labor unions have sought to block the mandates or sought alternatives like regular testing. Southwest’s senior vice president of operations and hospitality, Steve Goldberg, and Julie Weber, vice president and chief people officer, wrote to staff on Friday that if employees’ requests for an exemption haven’t been approved by Dec. 8, they could continue to work while following mask and distancing guidelines until the request has been reviewed.

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[–] • 0 pt

No problem, it’s hard to keep up with all the tyrants.

LOL, hard to believe we are saying that in the United States of America.

[–] • 2 pts

I know, it pisses me off to no end that I gave up roughly seven years of my life defending the constitution including combat to have the government outsource their tyranny to private companies.

I don’t care about the combat it is what it is but I joined specifically for the constitution because it’s just a piece of paper that protects you from government overreach and needs defending. I was told the constitution didn’t apply to me during my service since I signed a contract, I didn’t care as long as I was defending it.

Now I’m fighting by pen and keyboard helping people in real life and online with exemptions and contacting attorneys etc. who are taking away our rights “that were bestowed upon us by the creator”

Liberals conveniently forgot that the constitution applied to those small businesses that refused to bake cakes or take photos at gay weddings. But mega corps get a pass and laugh.

Here’s one from CNN today, they average liberal agrees.

Either way, the point is Sorkin heard about the possible strike and believed it. And here was his response: “Reminder,” our boyish public health expert tweeted Sunday, “Southwest accepted 3.2 billion dollars from taxpayers. That money kept its pilots employed during the pandemic. It also made Southwest the first airline to post a profit. And now, apparently, many of those pilots don’t want to help society by getting vaccinated.”

So if they took that money just like Silicon Valley and other mega corps do why aren’t they held to the same standard as a small businesses who has never received a dime from the government?

[–] • 0 pt

IMO any company or organization that takes Federal money is now beholden to the Federal government. It's called Fascism and it';s being deceptively employed. Here's an example, it is against the Constitution for the government to remove free speech but in a fascist world you have a "private" company that is in bed with the government to restrict free speech.

[–] • 1 pt

I’ve been saying it for years, if you’re a mega corp that receives tax incentives, deals, spies on or grants from the feds etc you’re now apart of the constitution.