FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has become the third Class I railroad to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for workers, citing the Biden Administration’s executive order requiring vaccinations for federal contractors.
“While we maintain the decision to be vaccinated for COVID-19 is a personal one — and have encouraged employees to make the decision that is best for them and their families — the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate now obligates BNSF to require employees to be vaccinated and we all must work toward that end,” spokeswoman Amy Casas said in a statement.
“In recognition for those who are fully vaccinated by the Jan. 4 deadline, BNSF will provide $300 to scheduled employees and exempt employees will receive a half-day of vacation. BNSF also has a process for an employee to request an accommodation to be exempted from the mandate due to a medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief in accordance with the executive order.”
Union Pacific announced a vaccination requirement for its employees in mid-October [see “Union Pacific to require employees …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 15, 2021]; Norfolk Southern did so the following week [see “NS enacts vaccine mandate …,” News Wire, Oct. 25, 2021]. Those railroads both filed suit to prevent legal action by unions over the mandate; the unions subsequently countersued. BNSF similarly filed suit on Sunday, the Associated Press reports.
NS CEO Jim Squires subsequently cautioned that the vaccination mandate could exacerbate crew shortages [see “Norfolk Southern warns that COVID-19 vaccine mandate poses risk to service,” News Wire, Oct. 27, 2021].
— Updated at 7 a.m. CST on Nov. 9 with BNSF filing suit against unions.
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