Just wondering how many are considering leaving the union because the union failed at a minimum to release a public statement against the mandate and at best urge members not to attest regardless of their position on vaccination/status? I know the union is arguing that there isn’t anything they can do but I say B.S.; a public statement and or membership email condemning the mandate is a start. They have done this before for other EOs (denounce the order) so why not for this one? I suspect it’s because there are enough members who are either for the mandate or are too indifferent to challenge it hence NATCA leadership feels that it’s best to simply go along with the EO. To be clear, I am not against the vaccine, I am against the mandate and believe that the administration is operating outside of its authority/powers. I also believe this sets a precedent for future changes in working conditions without any union negotiation, thereby undermining future negotiations. If the administration can get away with this without negotiating with unions, who is to say that they can’t get away with other changes in working conditions or terms of employment under the guise of protecting us during an emergency? What happens if they mandate boosters every year or if another variant requires a new vaccine that is risky (loss of a medical) to certain demographic groups? What are the limits of such unilateral action, if any exist? It seams to me that NATCA leadership is only willing to act on issues that they know the FAA or administration is going to collaborate on (and they can take credit for), but when the going gets tough and actual workers’ right to work or working conditions are at stake, they immediately give in and try to downplay any negative effects stemming from the action of the agency or administration. The reality is this: employees are being coerced or forced to vaccinate regardless of their levels of natural antibodies/immunity or risk termination.
This is unethical and wrong. Seams to me that the only way to change the mind of our leadership is to leave the union, which is unfortunate. I wrote a letter to NATCA leadership and their response was basically that the mandate is there to protect us and the NAS. Based on what I have learned about this virus and the available vaccines, I don’t believe a mandate is warranted unless of course you believe individuals are too stupid to make their own health decisions. Anyway, I am just curious if anyone has actually left or is planning to leave the union over this.
ourworldindata.org
