Judge Denies United Workers’ Motion For Injunction; Vaccine Mandate Will Continue

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United Airlines Vaccine Mandate Class Action Overview:

• Who: United Airlines workers had asked a judge to grant an injunction stopping their employer from enforcing a vaccine mandate that puts those with religious exemptions on unpaid leave.
• Why: Workers claim United is violating their rights by enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that places them on unpaid leave if they do not comply. The judge has refused to grant an injunction.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Texas federal court.

A Texas judge has denied United Airlines, Inc., workers’ motion for an injunction pending appeal, saying the employees haven’t proven they would be irreparably harmed if United enforced its COVID-19 vaccine mandate while the lawsuit proceeds.

“The court twice considered plaintiffs’ arguments that they were entitled to an injunction; the court twice concluded that plaintiffs failed to meet their burden to establish an essential element — a substantial threat of irreparable injury exists absent an injunction,” Judge Mark Pittman said in the order.

On Nov. 11, United employees filed a request for reconsideration of the decision, stating Pittman had “overlooked” the harm they would suffer; however, Pittman says he does not agree, and his decision is in line with previous decisions on similar cases.

United Employees Should Not Have to Choose Between Faith/Health and Livelihoods, Class Action Lawsuit Claims

United Airlines announced its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its employees back in August.

The plaintiffs allege that United has responded to employees’ requests for religious or medical exemptions to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate with indefinite unpaid leave. 

“Forcing employees to choose between their faith and health on the one hand and their livelihoods on the other hand presents an impossible choice,” the motion for injunction states.“For United, being able to advertise itself as having a 100% vaccinated workforce is apparently more important than its employees’ beliefs or health.”

Are you an airline employee who has been placed on unpaid leave as a result of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate? Let us know in the comments!

The plaintiffs are represented by John C. Sullivan of SL Law PLLC, Robert C. Wiegand and Melissa J. Swindle of Stewart Wiegand & Owens PC and Mark R. Paoletta, Gene C. Schaerr, Brain J. Field, Kenneth A. Klukowski, Joshua J. Prince and Annika M. Boone of Schaerr Jaffe LLP.

The United Airlines Vaccine Mandate Class Action Lawsuit is Sambrano, et al. v. United Airlines, Inc., Case No. 4:21-cv-01074-P, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• The Pandemic Isn’t Over. So How Safe Is Holiday Travel This Year?
• Vaccine Mandate Opposition Has Limited Courtroom Success; Supreme Court May Weigh In Soon
• Kaiser Permanente Asks Judge To Dismiss Workers ‘Bizarre’ Class Action Claims Over Vaccine Mandate
• United Airlines Can Continue to Enforce Vaccine Mandate, Judge Rules