Vaccinations Voluntary for UAW Members

Nov 25, 2021 — The Big Three automakers and the United Auto Workers say unionized employees is not going to be required to have COVID-19 vaccinations.

The assertion from the COVID-19 Joint Task Force of UAW, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler’s father or mother firm, Stellantis, mentioned employees are inspired however not mandated to get vaccinated.

“In addition to encouraging members to disclose their vaccination status, the Task Force continues to urge all members, coworkers, and their families to get vaccinated and get booster vaccinations against COVID-19, while understanding that there are personal reasons that may prevent some members from being vaccinated, such as health issues or religious beliefs,” the assertion mentioned.

Masking will nonetheless be required on worksites.

“While it is understood that masks can be uncomfortable, the spread of the Delta variant and recent data outlining the continued high rate of transmission in some geographic areas continue to be a serious health threat,” the assertion mentioned.
The stance by the autoworkers and the auto corporations conflicts with the Biden administration, which desires corporations with greater than 100 workers to mandate vaccinations.

That coverage has been placed on maintain whereas it faces authorized challenges which might be prone to attain the U.S. Supreme Court.

The UAW has greater than 400,000 energetic 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 an analogous mandate for “most” salaried employees. General Motors has not instituted a mandate but on its salaried U.S. workforce.

All three auto corporations have mandated vaccines for autoworkers in Canada.