Federal Worker Unions Back Vaccine Mandates Amid Local Backlash
July 28, 2021
Later this afternoon, President Biden is set to announce vaccination and testing rules for federal employees. In anticipation of the announcement, Michael Jones discussed the particulars with Bloomberg LP, noting that state and local authorities generally have broad powers to require vaccinations. Still, there is a debate over whether the federal government has that power while the inoculation is being used on an emergency basis (as it is now). Once the vaccine receives full approval from the FDA, “there’s no question at that point that the government can impose a mandate” for federal workers to receive the vaccination, said Jones. However, the administration would still need to negotiate how a mandate is implemented, and “under some circumstances,” unions could stop the plan. It would depend on nuances of state, federal, and local law and the wording of contracts, Jones said.
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