Fired Hundreds Of Employees Who Reluctant To Get Vaccine COVID-19, United Airlines: Difficult Decision, But Safety Priority

Illustration of a United Airlines airline employee. (Wikimedia Commons/Travelarz)

JAKARTA - United Airlines will lay off nearly 600 employees who refuse to meet COVID-19 vaccination requirements, company officials said Tuesday.

In addition to the 593 workers who refused to be vaccinated, about 2,000 other employees have also requested medical or religious exemptions for vaccine requirements, company officials said. That number is about three percent of the total 67,000 United workforce.

The airline welcomed President Biden's COVID-19 vaccination policy. In early August, United announced that all US employees would be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, uploading their vaccine card into the company's systems.

More than 99 percent of the remaining US staff are eligible, according to memos to employees from United Chief Executive Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart.

Additionally, the airline is working on its policy for employees who have requested an exemption, citing a pending court case on the matter.

"This is a historic achievement for our airline and our employees as well as for the customers and communities we serve", the memo said, citing CNA on September 29.

"Our reason for requiring a COVID-19 vaccine for all US-based United employees is simple, to keep our people safe and the reality is this, everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated, and the vaccine requirements work".

United Airlines said it would follow the terms of the agreement with the union, as far as firing employees for people who refused the vaccine.

"For less than one percent of people who decide not to be vaccinated against COVID-19, unfortunately, we will begin the process of separating from the airline at our discretion. This is a very difficult decision, but keeping our team safe is always our priority".