American, Southwest Hold Fast to Vaccine Mandate for Workers Despite Texas Governor’s Ban

By Paul Riegler on 13 October 2021
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An American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER in Dallas

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, two of the largest carriers in the country, said Tuesday that they will not waver in requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated, despite Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s new executive order that would ban such mandates in the state.

On Monday, the Texas governor banned any entity in the state – including private businesses – from mandating vaccines against the coronavirus for workers or customers.

The White House issued a vaccine mandate for government contactors on September 14.  That mandate states that federal contractors and subcontractors “are promulgated pursuant to Federal law and supersede any contrary State or local law or ordinance,” and “nothing in this guidance shall excuse noncompliance with any applicable State law or municipal ordinance.”

Both airlines said that they believe that the federal mandate supersedes Abbott’s order.

American Airlines officials “believe the federal vaccine mandate supersedes any conflicting state laws, and this does not change anything for American,” the airline said.

“Federal action supersedes any state mandate or law, and we would be expected to comply with the president’s order to remain compliant as a federal contractor,” Southwest said in a statement concerning the order.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)

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