A Trump-appointed judge on Monday ruled United Airlines can mandate Covid vaccines for employees.
In a 15-page ruling, U.S. District Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas Mark Pittman said the plaintiffs failed to establish they would suffer “imminent, irreparable harm.”
“We’re pleased with the court’s decision today. We know that the best way to keep everyone as safe as we can is for everyone to get vaccinated, as nearly all United employees have chosen to do,” United said in a statement to The Hill.
Recall, 6 United employees filed a lawsuit arguing the airliner was not accommodating religious or medical exemptions as promised – rather, the employees are being put on six years paid leave.
Attorneys for the employees argued the airliner’s vaccine mandate violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Last month Judge Pittman granted a temporary restraining order, which expired on November 8.
“Ultimately, however, it is not for the Court to decide if United’s vaccine mandate is bad policy,” Pittman wrote in his ruling on Monday. “Rather, it is the Court’s role to determine if Plaintiffs carried their burden to obtain a preliminary injunction.”
Separately, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted Biden’s vaccine mandate for businesses with more than 100 employees.
