ATA-led coalition sues to block federal vaccine mandate
From Transport Topics. American Trucking Associations, along with three state trucking associations and a number of groups representing various facets of the supply chain, have sued the Biden Administration over its employer-based COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The lawsuit was filed in response to a Nov. 4 Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule mandating that private companies…
From Transport Topics.
American Trucking Associations, along with three state trucking associations and a number of groups representing various facets of the supply chain, have sued the Biden Administration over its employer-based COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The lawsuit was filed in response to a Nov. 4 Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule mandating that private companies with 100 or more employees ensure that their workers are COVID-19 vaccinated by Jan. 4, or if not, are tested at least weekly.
Those joining in the lawsuit, filed on Nov. 9 with the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, included the Louisiana Motor Truck Association, the Mississippi Trucking Association, Texas Trucking Association, the Food Marketing Institute, the International Warehouse Logistics Association, the National Association of Convenience Stores, the National Retail Federation, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and the National Federation of Independent Business.
“To be very clear, ATA and its member companies support efforts to encourage all Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 — our trucks and drivers have been on the front line in fighting this pandemic since the beginning, moving personal protective equipment, test kits, the vaccine itself and much more as the country locked down, but we believe that the Biden Administration has overstepped its statutory authority in issuing this Emergency Temporary Standard,” said ATA President Chris Spear. “This standard arbitrarily picks winners and losers, and puts employers in an untenable position of forcing workers to choose between working and their private medical decisions, which is something that cannot be allowed.”
The rule has been the subject of numerous lawsuits filed by 26 state attorneys general in several federal appellate courts, and the 5th Circuit has issued a temporary stay, but the White House told business to continue with the requirements despite the court stay.
A court lottery is expected as soon as early as next week to determine which federal appellate court will take charge of the cases.
See the complete article online at Transport Topics.