Follow-up Call on Mandatory Vaccine Policy

August 21, 2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday we, the Airline Division leadership and legal counsel, requested a follow-up call with leadership from United Airlines Labor Relations Department. We set this call up to discuss the August 31st date being communicated for the deadline for RAP accommodations. The company informed us that members only need to apply by that date, and that RAP meetings and decisions on those applications would take some time. That was the only semi-positive portion of the call.

We asked if the company was prepared to present answers to the questions we posed on the last call. They informed us that, as discussed on the previous call, the answers would be forthcoming next week. That led to a conversation regarding exceptions or workarounds to the policy such as another VSL type program, extension of bridge medical, vaccination leave of absence given that this membership has sacrificed so much both recently and in the past for this company. We were told that at this time there would be no changes to the policy and no alternatives for those that do not have medical or religious exemptions – nothing but “thank you for your service.”

Given that answer, we told the company that the very members who brought this carrier through the pandemic, the frontline essential workers, were going to now be cast to the side and terminated. After all your sacrifices, and many with long distinguished impeccable careers, to now be cast aside as refuse is entirely deplorable. To that end, we are continuing to pursue every legal and contractual remedy we can to protect you from this obscenely draconian policy.

In solidarity,

Vinny Graziano
Coordinator Technician and Related Airline Division
International Brotherhood of Teamsters