Cyprus Mail
AmericasWorld

American Airlines, Southwest rebuff Texas governor, stand by vaccine mandate

us airlines see surge in demand, begin to raise prices.
File photo EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO

Rebuffing the Texas governor, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines said on Tuesday they would comply with U.S. President Joe Biden’s executive order to require that their employees be vaccinated for COVID-19 by a Dec. 8 deadline.

The two Texas-based carriers said the federal mandate superseded an order by Republican Governor Greg Abbott barring vaccine mandates by any entity, including private employers.

Southwest said it “would be expected to comply with the President’s Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor.” American said while it was reviewing Abbott’s executive order, “this does not change anything” for the company.

Both carriers have asked U.S.-based employees to submit proof of vaccination by Nov. 24.

Biden issued his mandate last month as his administration struggled to control the pandemic, which has killed more than 700,000 Americans. It covers all federal contractors.

While supporters of vaccine mandates see them as necessary to pull the country out of the nearly two-year-old pandemic, critics are calling them unconstitutional and authoritarian.

Six employees of United Airlines, which became the first U.S. carrier in August to require vaccinations for all domestic employees, have filed a class action in federal court in Texas claiming that workers who sought exemptions from the vaccine mandate were subjected to intrusive inquiries about their medical conditions or religious beliefs, including a requirement that they obtain letters from pastors.

The court, which is due to hear the case on Wednesday, issued an order on Tuesday restraining the airline until Oct. 26 from placing on unpaid leave any employee who receives religious or medical exemptions from the company for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The court also temporarily restrained United from denying any late requests for religious or medical accommodations.

In his executive order, Abbott said the Biden administration was “bullying” many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions.

In its response, the White House said on Tuesday that Abbott’s order was out of step with businesses in the state. Press secretary Jen Psaki said the governor’s decision was motivated by politics, not science.

Follow the Cyprus Mail on Google News

Related Posts

COP28 opens with plea to work together on fossil fuels

Reuters News Service

‘Let us be a lesson’, say Kazakhs wary of return to nuclear testing

Reuters News Service

Israel, Hamas extend Gaza truce by one day in last-minute deal

Reuters News Service

Towards a brighter tomorrow: India’s G20 Presidency and the dawn of a new multilateralism

CM Guest Columnist

Lavrov’s plane forced to take detour after Bulgarian authorities deny airspace access, Russia furious

Reuters News Service

Three killed, 8 wounded in Jerusalem shooting attack (Update 2)

Reuters News Service