Six United Staffers Sue Over Mandate, United Hits Back

The Hill reports:

Six United Airlines employees filed a federal lawsuit against the company this week seeking to block a COVID-19 vaccine mandate from going into effect.

The complaint, filed Tuesday in a Texas federal court, alleges that the company discriminated against employees who requested religious or medical accommodations.

The plaintiffs have asked for a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction on enforcing the order, followed by a permanent injunction. United Airlines became the first U.S. airline to require all employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in early August.

Courthouse News reports:

The Chicago-based airline says none of the six plaintiffs can claim disability discrimination because they do not have a disability under the ADA that “substantially limits one or more major life activities” of a person. All six employees were granted exemptions before being placed on unpaid leave.

“For example, Ms. Jones asserts having ‘severe reactions to various allergens, including eggs and penicillin’ and reports once having ‘had an emergency room episode due to an allergy,’” United’s 20-page brief in opposition to plaintiff’s motion for a TRO states. “She has not connected this to impairment of any major life activities.

United Airlines says employees opposed to vaccine requirement lack actual disability to sue for discrimination @davejourno https://t.co/iPoC4laFna

— Courthouse News (@CourthouseNews) September 24, 2021