WASHINGTON (Dispatches) - Nearly 600 United Airlines employees face being fired after failing to comply with the firm’s Covid-19 vaccination policy.
The vast majority of its 67,000 U.S. staff have supplied proof of vaccination, which was required by Monday.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision,” its bosses said in a memo to employees.
The Chicago-based airline set out its Covid requirements for staff in August.
Its U.S. employees had to upload proof of vaccination, or the first of two jabs, by the deadline on Monday.
The 593 workers who have refused a coronavirus vaccine and have not applied for an exemption on religious or medical grounds now face losing their jobs.
“Our rationale for requiring the vaccine for all United’s U.S.-based employees was simple - to keep our people safe - and the truth is this: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated, and vaccine requirements work,” its chief executive Scott Kirby and president Brett Hart said on Tuesday.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision but keeping our team safe has always been our first priority,” they said.
Some of those employees could be kept on if they have been jabbed and have simply failed to submit proof of vaccination - or if they are vaccinated before formal meetings on the matter, the company said.