The Chicago-based United Airlines plans to follow other world’s air carriers’ steps and require its employees to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
The decision over the mandatory crew and other staff vaccination was made due to the continuously growing rates of people infected with the highly contagious Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus in the United States. According to the memo to the staff, seen by Wall Street Journal, the Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines Scott Kirby and President of the airline Brett Hart informed that those employees, who have already been vaccinated against the virus, need to provide the employer their medical record.
“For those employees who are already vaccinated – and for those employees who get vaccinated and upload their records to Flying Together before September 20th – we’ll offer an additional day of pay. […] We know some of you will disagree with this decision to require the vaccine for all United employees. But, we have no greater responsibility to you and your colleagues than to ensure your safety when you’re at work, and the facts are crystal clear: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated.” the memo indicated.
“We know some of you will disagree with this decision to require the vaccine for all United employees. But, we have no greater responsibility to you and your colleagues than to ensure your safety when you’re at work, and the facts are crystal clear: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated,” it added.
Meanwhile, another major American air carrier Delta Air Lines has already announced it supports such a mandate. Speaking to the media in May 2021, the CEO Ed Bastian of the Atlanta-based company said that Delta Air Lines would require its newcomers to get vaccinated before the new staff members join the airline. In addition, Bastian outlined that the existing employees of the airline would be strongly encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, those who would refuse to follow the requirement would lose the opportunity to fly international Delta flights.