By Alice Seeley
United Airlines announced it would allow employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 due to religious or medical reasons to resume work on Monday, March 28. Kirk Limacher, United’s vice president of human relations, stated the decision is based on the decline of COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.
“Of course, if another variant emerges or the COVID trends suddenly reverse course, we will reevaluate the appropriate safety protocols at that time,” Limacher said.
The news comes after United Airlines created the first and strictest COVID vaccine requirement in the airline industry. United employees had to be vaccinated or were terminated. United Airlines announced in August 2021. 97% of United’s 67,000 employees complied and received the COVID vaccine, 2,200 employees were granted medical or religious exemption, and only 200 United employees were fired for being unvaccinated without an exemption. However, the 2,200 United employees granted a medical or religious exemption were placed on indefinite unpaid leave.
Unfortunately, United’s new policy only affects current United employees. Any new United employees are required to receive the COVID vaccine. In addition, the company will reevaluate its policy every month and can reverse it at any time.
This decision comes after six employees sued United concerning the vaccine mandate. The Texas federal court upheld United’s vaccine mandate but this past month, the 5th U.S. The Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas federal court must reconsider the ruling. After United’s announcement, the company filed a request to the court to drop the ruling and dismiss the appeal because of the change in company policy.
“In light of these changed circumstances, plaintiffs’ preliminary-injunction motion is moot, and this Court should vacate the panel opinion and dismiss the appeal,” court records state.
