- American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) representing 9 million workers: “The Healthy People 2020 Objective of 90 Percent Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Among Health Care Personnel Is A Goal Rather Than a Mandatory Requirement”
“Unilateral Implementation Of Mandatory Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programs In Unionized Healthcare Facilities Is A Violation Of The National Labor Relations Act - NVAC Should Not Endorse Illegal Acts By Employers”
“Healthcare workers must be permitted to refuse the annual seasonal influenza vaccination without fear of reprisal for medical, religious, or personal reasons.”
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) representing 1.6 million members: “… cannot endorse Recommendation # 4 urging that employers require influenza vaccination without allowance for medical, religious and philosophical exemptions”
- American Federation of Teachers (AFT) representing 1.5 million members: “The mandate should be the adoption of a comprehensive standard similar to OSHA blood-borne pathogen standard with requirements for training, voluntary immunization and declination after education."
“The AFT believes that establishing a mandatory seasonal influenza program is a change to the terms and conditions of employment. Therefore those healthcare employers with unionized workforces cannot unilaterally implement mandatory influenza programs with the consequence of discipline or discharge for those unwilling to do so without negotiating with the union should the union wish to do so. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently upheld that right in its decision in the Virginia Mason Hospital and Washington State Nurses Association, Case 19-CA-30154, August 23, 2011.”
- Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America (AFA) representing 60,000 flight attendants at 23 airlines: “AFA does not support making influenza vaccination a condition of employment for HCP. As stated in the draft report, this is a controversial and hotly debated recommendation. It is also one that if adopted will have significant, career-altering consequences for workers who object strongly (for whatever reason) to influenza vaccination.”
- Association of American Physicians and Surgeons: “The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), a national organization of physicians in all specialties founded in 1943 to preserve the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship, objects strenuously to any coercion of healthcare personnel to receive influenza immunization.”
“It is a fundamental human right not to be subjected to medical interventions without fully informed consent.”
- National Nurses United (NNU) representing 170,000 members across all states is the largest professional association and labor organization of director care registered nurses: “…we cannot support mandatory vaccination policies, because, rather than being educated on the importance of vaccination, employees are instead coerced into accepting the vaccine, or risk being punished, retaliated against, and, in some cases, fired by their employer. Mandatory flu vaccination programs engender distrust and resistance among employees; offer a disincentive to providing vaccination education to employees, and raise ethical and legal questions about the personal employment rights of employees. This is not the way to protect public health.”
- The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions representing 28 local unions with 95,000 frontline employees: "Employee relations and public health are not well served by the use of coercion to achieve flu vaccination ends. And it is not consisted with our national values openness, respect, and informed consent around medical treatments we receive.”
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): “OSHA is a strong supporter of appropriate education, ready access and signed declination statements for HCP vaccinations. OSHA's bloodborne pathogen standard regarding Hepatitis B education and vaccination is a best-practice model. Influenza vaccination exemptions should be allowed for HCP with valid medical contraindications to vaccinations, or religious and/or personal objections.”
- United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union is among the first unions in the United States to organize health care workers and represents 30,000 members throughout the health care sector: "The USW supports effective, voluntary programs for influenza vaccination ofhealthcare workers..." “Employers are prohibited by the National Labor Relations Act, and other labor laws with similar provisions, from making unilateral changes in conditions of employment including health and safety. A mandatory vaccination policy would certainly fall within this category..."
"In conclusion, we urge NVAC to drop the recommendation for mandatory vaccination as a condition of employment for healthcare workers...”
