A bid made by pilots to block Southwest Airlines from imposing a vaccine mandate was rejected on Tuesday. A federal judge denied the request, saying the airline’s requirement of vaccination as a safety measure is within its authority.
As previously reported by the Dallas Express, Southwest Airlines Pilot Association asked the court to issue a temporary delay against the airline’s requirement of COVID-19 vaccination, as well as other quarantine guidance. The union claims Southwest violated the Railway Labor Act by illegally changing work rules without negotiating with its pilots.
U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn denied the request and dismissed the case, saying that Southwest’s requirement did not appear to violate the pilots association’s collective bargaining agreement.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines asked its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in compliance with President Biden’s requirement for federal contractors. The airline falls under the category of federal contractors as it flies federal employees and U.S. mail, amongst other services.
The carrier is giving its employees a deadline of Nov. 24 to provide proof of vaccination or request an exemption.
