The Biden administration recently ordered the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop a rule requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require unvaccinated workers to produce a weekly negative COVID-19 test result.
The IAM will closely examine the final rule and its full effect on different industries and employers once the rule is final.
“The IAM places the highest priority on the health and safety of our members at all times,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “We continue to demand that employers provide personal protective equipment, practice social distancing and follow all CDC guidelines to ensure the safety and health of our members during this pandemic.”
OSHA will issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to implement this requirement.
“As the administration moves to adopt an emergency temporary standard concerning vaccines and testing, the IAM will work to enforce the legal obligation of employers to bargain with unions over effects that implementation will have on union–represented employees,” said Martinez. “Rest assured, the IAM will, as always, continue to vigorously protect our members’ rights.
This requirement will impact over 80 million workers in private sector businesses with 100+ employees.