October 19, 2021
Fellow Flight Crew Training Instructors,
Southwest Airlines announced on Monday, October 4, 2021 that it would require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since it is a federal contractor. Communications have gone out from leadership regarding this mandate and the consequences for non compliance.
Local 557 leadership was in contact last week with other Southwest Airlines TWU locals as well as TWU International to request guidance and assistance with this matter. Find enclosed a copy of Gary Peterson’s, Air Division Director for TWU International, response regarding this matter.
To be perfectly clear, this issue has nothing to do with vaccines and the choice an employee should have to either vaccinate or not vaccinate but rather the draconian manner in which Southwest Airlines is threatening an employee to comply with the vaccination or be terminated for non compliance if either a medical or religious exemption is requested and subsequently denied. Southwest Airlines has clearly put profits ahead of the welfare of its employees.
There are alternative means of compliance available for this mandate such as weekly testing for COVID-19, antibody testing or un-paid leaves of absence that could be offered. Terminating employees without offering these options or due to a denial of a requested exemption will make the critically short staffed situation we are currently experiencing unsustainable and cause a direct operational impact to both FCTIs and the Company.
Since this is a very fluid situation, we will monitor developments and remain in constant communication with both Company leadership and TWU International. In the meantime, remain vigilant, professional and take all necessary precautions to safeguard your health.
In Unity for the Executive Board,
Robert Vazquez Goretti
President Local 557
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13BIU60uD6UbhCmyDApPf-g-qzHiWx9em/view