Nov 25, 2021 — The Large Three automakers and the United Auto Employees say unionized employees won’t be required to have COVID-19 vaccinations.
The assertion from the COVID-19 Joint Process Drive of UAW, Ford, Normal Motors, and Chrysler’s father or mother firm, Stellantis, stated employees are inspired however not mandated to get vaccinated.
“Along with encouraging members to reveal their vaccination standing, the Process Drive continues to induce all members, coworkers, and their households to get vaccinated and get booster vaccinations in opposition to COVID-19, whereas understanding that there are private causes which will forestall some members from being vaccinated, resembling well being points or non secular beliefs,” the statement stated.
Masking will nonetheless be required on worksites.
“Whereas it’s understood that masks will be uncomfortable, the unfold of the Delta variant and up to date knowledge outlining the continued excessive fee of transmission in some geographic areas proceed to be a severe well being menace,” the assertion stated.
The stance by the autoworkers and the auto firms conflicts with the Biden administration, which needs firms with greater than 100 staff to mandate vaccinations.
That coverage has been put on hold whereas it faces authorized challenges which can be prone to attain the U.S. Supreme Court docket.
The UAW has greater than 400,000 lively members and 580,000 retired members within the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Stellantis final week ordered non-union, salaried employees within the U.S. to reveal vaccination standing by Dec. 4 and be absolutely vaccinated by Jan. 5, The Detroit News reported. Ford issued the same mandate for “most” salaried employees. Normal Motors has not instituted a mandate but on its salaried U.S. workforce.
All three auto firms have mandated vaccines for autoworkers in Canada.
