US Workers Object to Vaccine Requirements
2021-11-05
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Workers around the United States who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 may lose their jobs.
2Some say they do not want the vaccine because of religious concerns.
3Others say the government should not control what goes into their bodies.
4They are objecting to a federal mandate that requires workers from businesses with at least 100 employees to vaccinate or be tested every week.
5The mandate also extends to all federal employees and those working with the federal government or government-supported programs.
6This week, the Biden administration said the mandate will require workers to receive either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Jan. 4 or be tested weekly.
7Employees who test positive must be removed from the workplace.
8The federal government says its vaccination requirements will apply to about 100 million Americans or two-thirds of all U.S. workers.
9Business and labor leaders, however, worry that it will hurt the nation's economic recovery if thousands of workers suddenly lose their jobs.
10In Wichita, Kansas, nearly half of the roughly 10,000 employees at aircraft companies Textron and Spirit AeroSystems remain unvaccinated against COVID-19.
11Two Textron workers who requested religious exemptions to vaccine requirements said the company asked questions about their religious beliefs and church leaders.
12Textron told the Reuters news agency that it has to follow the federal mandate.
13The company added that workers who are unable to receive the vaccine because of medical or religious reasons were given a chance "to request an accommodation from this requirement."
14Cornell Beard is a local labor leader.
15He said, "We're going to lose a lot of employees over this."
16Beard said the workers did not object to the vaccine itself.
17But they are opposed to what they see as government control over personal health decisions.
18Beard said the labor group is now hiring lawyers to help the employees.
19They will prepare possible legal actions if requests for medical or religious exemptions to vaccination are denied.
20Health officials said vaccines remain the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, especially with the spread of the Delta variant.
21Many legal experts have said vaccine mandates in the interest of public health are legal.
22The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected several challenges to mandates.
23Last week, the high court turned away a healthcare worker who sought a religious exemption to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
24Still, at a recent protest near Seattle, an employee of plane-maker Boeing called it "illegal, immoral and impractical."
25The worker said, "We are standing together against a company and government trampling on our rights."
26Some said they would retire early if they have to get the vaccine.
27Massachusetts-based Raytheon makes weapons, communications systems and air security devices for the U.S. government.
28Its leader warned that it will lose "several thousand" employees because of the mandate.
29Other large companies, including FedEx and UPS, say many of their employees will not be vaccinated in time.
30Mercedes-Benz, which also makes cars in the U.S., said it gave employees 90 days to get the vaccine.
31So far, over half of them have.
32The company said it expects most of its employees will meet the requirement.
33I'm Dan Friedell.
1Workers around the United States who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 may lose their jobs. Some say they do not want the vaccine because of religious concerns. Others say the government should not control what goes into their bodies. 2They are objecting to a federal mandate that requires workers from businesses with at least 100 employees to vaccinate or be tested every week. The mandate also extends to all federal employees and those working with the federal government or government-supported programs. 3This week, the Biden administration said the mandate will require workers to receive either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Jan. 4 or be tested weekly. Employees who test positive must be removed from the workplace. 4The federal government says its vaccination requirements will apply to about 100 million Americans or two-thirds of all U.S. workers. Business and labor leaders, however, worry that it will hurt the nation's economic recovery if thousands of workers suddenly lose their jobs. 5Unvaccinated in Wichita, Kansas 6In Wichita, Kansas, nearly half of the roughly 10,000 employees at aircraft companies Textron and Spirit AeroSystems remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. 7Two Textron workers who requested religious exemptions to vaccine requirements said the company asked questions about their religious beliefs and church leaders. 8Textron told the Reuters news agency that it has to follow the federal mandate. The company added that workers who are unable to receive the vaccine because of medical or religious reasons were given a chance "to request an accommodation from this requirement." 9Cornell Beard is a local labor leader. He said, "We're going to lose a lot of employees over this." Beard said the workers did not object to the vaccine itself. But they are opposed to what they see as government control over personal health decisions. 10Beard said the labor group is now hiring lawyers to help the employees. They will prepare possible legal actions if requests for medical or religious exemptions to vaccination are denied. 11Is mandate legal? 12Health officials said vaccines remain the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, especially with the spread of the Delta variant. 13Many legal experts have said vaccine mandates in the interest of public health are legal. The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected several challenges to mandates. Last week, the high court turned away a healthcare worker who sought a religious exemption to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. 14Still, at a recent protest near Seattle, an employee of plane-maker Boeing called it "illegal, immoral and impractical." The worker said, "We are standing together against a company and government trampling on our rights." Some said they would retire early if they have to get the vaccine. 15Massachusetts-based Raytheon makes weapons, communications systems and air security devices for the U.S. government. Its leader warned that it will lose "several thousand" employees because of the mandate. Other large companies, including FedEx and UPS, say many of their employees will not be vaccinated in time. 16Mercedes-Benz, which also makes cars in the U.S., said it gave employees 90 days to get the vaccine. So far, over half of them have. The company said it expects most of its employees will meet the requirement. 17I'm Dan Friedell. 18Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. 19What should happen to the employees who are not vaccinated in time? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 20________________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22mandate - n. an official order to do something 23dose - n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time 24positive - n. the result from a test that shows that a particular germ, condition, or substance is present 25apply- v. to have an effect on someone or something 26exemption- n. freedom from being required to do something that others are required to do - usually + from 27accommodation - n. the act of providing an opportunity for something to happen 28challenge- n. an action, statement, etc., that is against something : a refusal to accept something as true, correct, or legal - often + to 29impractical - adj. not easy to do or use : not suitable for the situation 30trample- v. to treat other people's rights, wishes, or feelings as if they are worthless or not important