- American Airlines' flight attendant union is telling members that they won't be immediately fired if they remain unvaccinated past the airline's deadline.
- All American employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19 per a Biden administration mandate for federal contractors.
- American's deadline for vaccination is just days before the Thanksgiving holiday.
American Airlines' flight attendant union is telling flight attendants unvaccinated for COVID-19 that they won't immediately be fired or taken off flights if they don't abide by the airline's deadline to be vaccinated.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants on Monday updated its members on the status of its negotiations with the airline regarding the vaccine mandate. American, the union stated, indicated that it wouldn't be taking a hardline approach like its rival, United Airlines, to those requesting exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
"For those Flight Attendants who remain unvaccinated and do not receive an accommodation, you will not be automatically removed from service or terminated from employment on the deadline for compliance," the Association of Professional Flight Attendants said in an October 18 letter to members. "Our Contract provides for a process that must be followed before anyone can be terminated."
An American spokesperson told Insider that workers were told they need to submit proof of vaccination by the November 24 deadline and it's still codifying details on an exemption and accommodation process. The airline did not say whether unvaccinated flight attendants would be fired or allowed to fly after the deadline imposed by the airline or the December 8 deadline imposed by the Biden administration.
The APFA had previously said that receiving a reasonable accommodation wouldn't guarantee flight attendants would be allowed to keep their jobs.
"It is important to know, however, that reasonable accommodation does not necessarily mean you will be allowed to continue working without receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, as we have seen at other carriers and in other industries," the union wrote in an October 2 memo.
The AFPA did not return Insider's request for comment.
On October 1, an American memo to employees viewed by Insider stated that the airline will have to comply with President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for federal contractors and can't offer a testing opt-out.
"While we are still working through the details of the federal requirements, it is clear that team members who choose to remain unvaccinated will not be able to work at American Airlines," the airline said, adding that those requesting an exemption for medical or religious reasons can do so through an internal company system called Jetnet.
The November 24 vaccination deadline falls just one day before the Thanksgiving holiday, one of the busiest travel times of the year. And American, like many airlines, has been operating with a reduced workforce stemming from pandemic cuts in 2020.
Any reduction in pilots, flight attendants, or other airline workers during the holiday travel rush could impact airlines like American operationally and lead to delayed and canceled flights if not properly managed. Southwest Airlines most recently felt the impact of being understaffed when it canceled thousands of flights following a bad weather event combined with air traffic control issues.
United is in the process of terminating 232 employees that refused to be vaccinated for COVID-19 after vaccinating nearly 100% of its staff. Delta Air Lines has yet to announce a company-wide vaccine mandate in compliance with the Biden administration's mandate but says around 90% of workers are vaccinated.
"For those colleagues who did not [get vaccinated], we realize this federal mandate may be difficult, but it is what is required of our company, and we will comply," American said in its letter.
