r/boston • u/737900ER Still Double Cupping • 23d ago

MBTA union says they will fight vaccine mandate MBTA/Transit

https://www.facebook.com/carmensunion589/posts/4409004222485823
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u/737900ER Still Double Cupping 23d ago

Then how come they never fought the masking mandate last year?

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u/Pubisjaunt 22d ago

I don't know why or why not the Carman's Union did or did not object to the mask mandate but I can tell you that my union and the organization that I work for came together and authored a number of "Memoranda of Understanding" (MOUs) regarding a number of things such as emergency leave and staffing issues in the early days of the pandemic. One such was on mask mandates and the consensus was basically "we encourage everyone to wear a mask and follow state guidelines." I imagine the union and the MBTA came to a similar understanding initially and later regarding the federal mask mandate in transit facilities. The difference here is that the state vaccine mandate comes with significant changes to working conditions in the threat of discipline or termination on the basis of vaccination status, something that AFAIK was conspicuously absent from mask mandates.

Just as an aside, my union has taken a similar stance on vaccination as a condition of employment but I think their statement is a little more well though out. To paraphrase: "Maintaining the health and safety of our members is of paramount importance. While the union leadership continues to encourage workers to voluntarily get vaccinated, it is not the role of the federal government to mandate vaccinations for the employees we represent. Issues related to vaccinations and testing for COVID-19 in the workplace must be negotiated with the union."