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INSIGHT-From Boeing to Mercedes, a U.S. worker rebellion swells over vaccine mandates
Reuters ^ | 2 November 2021 | Tina Bellon and Eric M. Johnson

Posted on 11/02/2021 8:59:45 AM PDT by george76

In Wichita, Kansas, nearly half of the roughly 10,000 employees at aircraft companies Textron Inc and Spirit AeroSystems remain unvaccinated against COVID-19, risking their jobs in defiance of a federal mandate, according to a union official.

"We're going to lose a lot of employees over this," said Cornell Adams, head of the local Machinists union district. Many workers did not object to the vaccines as such, he said, but were staunchly opposed to what they see as government meddling in personal health decisions.

The union district has hired a Texas-based lawyer to assist employees and prepare potential lawsuits against the companies should requests for medical or religious exemptions to vaccination be denied.

A life-long Democrat, Adams said he would no longer vote for the party. "They'll never get another vote from me and I'm telling the workers here the same thing."

The clock is ticking for companies that want to continue gaining federal contracts under an executive order by Democratic President Joe Biden, which requires all contractor employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8.

That means federal contract workers need to have received their last COVID-19 shot at least two weeks before the deadline to gain maximum protection, according to U.S. government guidance.

With a three-week gap between shots of the Pfizer /BioNTech vaccine, workers must get the first jab by Wednesday. If the government holds fast to its deadline, it is already too late to choose Moderna's vaccine, which is given in two doses four weeks apart. Workers could opt to get Johnson & Johnson's single-shot vaccine until Nov. 24 to meet the deadline.

The mandate has stirred protests from workers in industries across the country, as well as from Republican state officials.

Opposition to the mandate could potentially lead to thousands of U.S. workers losing their jobs and imperil an already sluggish economic recovery, union leaders, workers and company executives said.

More legal clashes are likely over how companies decide requests for vaccination exemptions.

For the companies, time is getting tight, though the Biden administration has signaled federal contractors will not have to immediately lay off unvaccinated workers who miss the Dec. 8 deadline.

Under government guidance https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/contractors published on Monday, companies will have flexibility over how to implement the mandate, which may allow them to avoid mass firings.

"A covered contractor should determine the appropriate means of enforcement with respect to its employee," the guidance said.

For Boeing Co in the United States, more than 7,000 workers have applied for religious exemptions and around 1,000 are seeking medical exemptions, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. That amounts to some 6% of the planemaker's roughly 125,000 U.S employees.

'ILLEGAL, IMMORAL AND IMPRACTICAL'

At a rally last week outside Boeing property in Auburn, south of Seattle, many of the three dozen workers gathered in driving rain said they would rather be escorted off Boeing property on Dec. 8 than take a vaccine. Others said they would pursue early retirement.

"The mandate is illegal, immoral and impractical," said one veteran Boeing program analyst who attended the rally. "We are standing together against a company and government trampling on our rights."

Many legal experts have said vaccine mandates in the interest of public health are legal.

The rebellion has put Boeing executives in a bind. The company could lose skilled staff, but must comply with a presidential order.

A Boeing spokesperson said the company was committed to maintaining a safe working environment for its employees.

The order's provision for religious and medical exemptions is causing more tension.

Two Textron workers who requested religious exemptions told Reuters the company's human resources representatives quizzed them on the name of their church leaders and asked detailed questions about their faith.

Textron declined to respond to questions, but in a statement said it was obligated to comply with Biden's order and was taking steps to do so.

"Employees who are unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccination due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief are being provided an opportunity to request an accommodation from this requirement," Textron said.

Spirit AeroSystems did not respond to a request for comment.

Raytheon Technologies' CEO Greg Hayes last week warned the U.S. defense firm will lose "several thousand" employees because of the mandate.

A group representing FedEx Corp, United Parcel Service Inc and other cargo carriers said it would be virtually impossible to have all their workforces vaccinated by the deadline.

Some companies have imposed vaccine mandates even absent immediate government regulation.

Mercedes-Benz USA, the U.S. unit of German carmaker Daimler AG which is not a U.S. government contractor, told employees in an October email seen by Reuters that proof of vaccination against COVID-19 would become a condition of employment beginning Jan. 4.

The carmaker said it implemented the move in anticipation of a separate U.S. government vaccine mandate that would apply to businesses with at least 100 employees, affecting some 80 million workers nationwide.

Less than half of the company's workers at U.S. import processing centers are vaccinated and many refuse to get a shot, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Mercedes USA in a statement said it had given employees 90-day notice to fulfill the requirement, adding that two thirds of its U.S. employees - not including factory workers in Alabama - have provided proof of vaccination to date.

"We expect that the vast majority of our employees will provide proof of vaccination before the deadline," the company said.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Kansas; US: Texas; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: anthonyfauci; covid19; covidstooges; employment; mandate; mandates; obamacare; rebellion; vaccination; vaccine; vaccinemandates; vaccines; worker; workerrebellion
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To: steve86
Totally understandable question - the additional axis are "forward/backward" and "lateral" movements. The standard XYZ applies to a fixed object. The 5-axis machines grind complex components - in my business we fabricate patient-specific medical devices that must attach to various things with super high tolerances.

Without a skilled machinist at least 65% of these jobs will hit "snags" where the robot is befuddled and just surrenders. Pathetic! The machinist will analyze, intervene, adjust and re-engage the job.

81 posted on 11/02/2021 11:52:20 AM PDT by corkoman
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To: dhs12345

Eventually, all over the globe, this:

Revelation 13:16-18 - King James Version

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.


82 posted on 11/02/2021 11:58:07 AM PDT by SaveFerris (The Lord, The Christ and The Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth - http://www.BiblicalJesusChrist.Com/)
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And this will eventually happen as well;

Revelation 14:9-12 - King James Version

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.


83 posted on 11/02/2021 12:07:16 PM PDT by SaveFerris (The Lord, The Christ and The Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth - http://www.BiblicalJesusChrist.Com/)
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To: Alas Babylon!

Unfortunately, even complex positions can be replaced because humans are surprisingly flexible - and management can just blame the supply disruptions on the ports while training replacements. The government can live without new Mercedes for a while.

I don’t want to discourage anyone from opposing this evil, but we do have to understand reality in order to effectively fight it.


84 posted on 11/02/2021 12:37:58 PM PDT by mbj
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To: Elsie

You sound like Brandon.

Next you’ll be saying, “heck, anyone can learn to code”.


85 posted on 11/02/2021 12:39:09 PM PDT by webstersII
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To: Elsie

But I’ve been around long enough to have seen designers/draftsmen get replaced by CAD/CAM

+++++++++++++++++++

Sorry but I deal with stupid everyday. Just because you can draw it or model it on CAD doesn’t make it -
-Producible
-Correct

CAD just brings stupid and bad designs “to a whole notha level”.


86 posted on 11/02/2021 12:39:20 PM PDT by mund1011
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To: GOPJ

Let’s hope and pray! :-)


87 posted on 11/02/2021 12:39:32 PM PDT by mbj
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To: Flick Lives

Helpful reference for those who need to name church leaders: Christians can honestly and truthfully say Jesus is your leader, or name the apostles...

(Obligatory Trigger Warning for the faint of heart!!! /sarc)

1 Corinthians 11
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Ephesians 2
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;


88 posted on 11/02/2021 12:43:20 PM PDT by mbj
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To: Brian Griffin

“...well-known religious principles.”

Yyeeahhh... you’d think, but, then you’d also think arguing with one’s DNA would be a well-known symptom of mental illness, too, so... actual mileage may vary. A LOT.


89 posted on 11/02/2021 12:43:23 PM PDT by HKMk23 (The right of freedom of religion shall not be derogated even if the life of the nation is at stake.)
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To: mbj

Ephesians 2
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Nice Biblical quote.


90 posted on 11/02/2021 12:50:41 PM PDT by Flick Lives (The future is a quiet world)
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To: Betty Jane

As far as we know, the vaccine will NOT directly prevent the spread. The shedding rate and load of a vaccinated person is roughly equivalent to the unvaccinated. I don’t yet know whether or not it reduces the infectious duration, which could be important.

The vaccine will reduce many peoples’ chance of DYING, but it’s NOT fool proof as Collin Powell found out.

Fetal cells (dead kids) were used in the testing process for all three Western vaccines, to the best of my knowledge.

In the meantime, Ivermectin, Hydroxychloroquine, Quercetin are all useful prophylactic substances, when combined with proper amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc.

This site may be a bit hyperbolic, but this is still an interesting article -

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/11/wonder-drug-new-international-ivermectin-report-64-studies-shows-86-success-prophylaxis-67-success-early-treatment/


91 posted on 11/02/2021 12:56:05 PM PDT by mbj
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To: Elsie
I don't think punching up a new program to tell the CNC machine how to create a part is all that difficult

what about trades closer to your life ... who's gonna fix your toilet when 1/3 of the plumbers are fired?

who's gonna fix your car when 1/3 of the mechanics are gone?

plus fewer cops, fewer firemen, fewer medics ... etc. etc.

all jobs that have LONG learning curves and can't be replaced overnite

this policy has the potential to be disastrous!!!


92 posted on 11/02/2021 12:59:33 PM PDT by canuck_conservative
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To: Brian Griffin

+1

However, technically these are government contractors not holding an office. I wonder whether or not they could be considered to hold a public Trust?


93 posted on 11/02/2021 1:00:17 PM PDT by mbj
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To: HKMk23

Nice!

But somehow I found this wording amusing: “...because you fervently believe that mRNA technology profanes the human genome”


94 posted on 11/02/2021 1:01:30 PM PDT by mbj
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To: HKMk23

+1


95 posted on 11/02/2021 1:01:55 PM PDT by mbj
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To: Brian Griffin

+1


96 posted on 11/02/2021 1:04:02 PM PDT by mbj
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To: ReaganGeneration2

Because he hates you.


97 posted on 11/02/2021 1:17:18 PM PDT by Osage Orange (1961 VW Two Door Truck)
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To: null and void
I think you meant.....""Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose..."

But maybe I'm wrong....I am a man.

98 posted on 11/02/2021 1:19:20 PM PDT by Osage Orange (1961 VW Two Door Truck)
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To: PistolPaknMama

does this work?

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/11/02/slavery-system.aspx


99 posted on 11/02/2021 1:24:49 PM PDT by goodnesswins (....pervert Biden & O Cabal are destroying America, as planned.)
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To: cuban leaf

Yes, it’s terrifying if true...and the way this covid crap is going, most terrifying, because I think there are sooooo many sheep.


100 posted on 11/02/2021 1:28:18 PM PDT by goodnesswins (....pervert Biden & O Cabal are destroying America, as planned.)
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