Vaccination Mandate Madness

 

October 25, 2021 is the deadline for CTA workers to submit proof of vaccination through the Employee Portal or face being put on unpaid sick leave (I hope to find and upload that particular document).

However, according to ATU Local 241 and Local 308 President Hill and Dixon, they convinced the CTA to hold off enforcing the mandate until an arbitrator will decide what will happen.

Long story short, we are probably just stalling to be told that we must prove we are vaccinated for Covid-19 or lose our jobs.

In my opinion, this whole thing is totally wrong for many reasons:

1. 
   It seems like we are always punished for everything—and rewarded for nothing—at work. Just the impetus of threatening an entire workforce—many of whom have no benefits, pension or pay premiums—is absolutely cruel.
   
   
2. Some who get vaccinated for Covid-19 have had serious side effects that made it difficult, or impossible, to go to work.
   
   There is absolutely nothing in writing that says we cannot be punished for taking off work to rest from sickening side effects.
   
   Not only should we not be punished, but we should also receive straight pay for time off.
   
   
3. By dumping the decision in the lap of the Almighty Arbitrator, we give our duty as a union to democratically decide a path forward.
   
   The collective knowledge and opinion of all can be distilled through conference calls, debates and votes.
   
   Maybe we could establish regular testing for those who choose not to vaccinate? Maybe we organize public action around the hypocrisy of punishing workers who lost so much while not having a good Contract, health care and surviving daily assaults on the front line?
   
   Yet again, the leadership has disregarded the Preamble and union democracy. They decided for us without consulting with us. This was wrong.

In conclusion, I want to make it clear that I am one of your coworkers who chose to take a vaccine in June of this year. For reasons personal to me, I decided to do it. Some coworkers are upset that I did it. Some are glad. Sorry to offend you, but I did what I thought was best for me and will accept the consequences—good or bad.

However, I will not tell you to do it. I will not tell you to not do it. I will tell you, however, that I will continue to demand and speak up against ANY and all forms of punishment imposed on us regarding the vaccine. I will tell you that we need to fight for our jobs and against punishment regarding the vaccine.

Please share this article with your coworkers and post comments below.