WASHINGTON — Amtrak has extended the deadline for its workers to receive COVID-19 vaccinations to Dec. 8, CEO Bill Flynn said today in a message to employees — and is preparing for possible service reductions if workers leave the company rather than receiving the vaccination.
The new date aligns Amtrak’s deadline, which previously had been Nov. 10, with the date set under the federal executive order covering federal contractors.
Flynn’s message says the company plans to publish a revised service schedule in mid-November, based on the vaccination rate at that time, to reflect possible temporary reductions reflecting a reduced number of employees. That schedule will take effect in December.
To date, more than 80% of Amtrak employees have received at least one shot.
The company permit employees to have received at one shot by Dec. 8 to remain in service pending completion of full vaccination status, but they must provide proof they have received their final shot by Jan. 10, 2022 “to avoid termination of employment.” Those who fail to submit proof of having received at least one shot by Dec. 8 “will be considered insubordinate (in violation of Amtrak policy) — with the termination process to begin immediately.”
The letter also notes that those whose request for a religious accommodation is approved will be offered unpaid time off as the accommodation. “Everyone should understand that an accommodation protects your employment status with Amtrak,” Flynn writes, “but does not guarantee that you can keep working at Amtrak and collecting pay without getting vaccinated.”
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