Stellantis should terminate the mandate of the COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, the judge decided.
On October 14 last year, Stellantis joined General Motors and Ford and announced a vaccine mandate for its employees. The carmaker’s policy came into force on December 17, 2021, and in January began unpaid workers who were not vaccinated.
Unifor Local 444 and Unifor Local 1285, respectively, appealed to the Windsor Assembly Plant and the Brampton Assembly Plant for arbitration with Stellantis lawyers.
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In its June 17 decision, the arbitrator ruled that the policy was initially reasonable, but that it should be completed by June 25, allowing some suspended employees to return to work.
Dave Cassidy, president of Unifor Local 444, said in a statement: “The judge ruled that when the policy was introduced and implemented, it was ‘reasonable’ and has been reasonable so far.” “However, viral epidemiology is being studied [sic] The ever-changing versions of the COVID-19 virus now make this policy unreasonable as of June 25, 2022. ”
The judge also influenced the federal government’s decision to lift the mandatory vaccination policy for civil servants from June 20, Cassidy added.
“Evidence supports the conclusion that there is a slight difference in the risk of infection between two-dose vaccine regimens and those who have not been vaccinated against Omicron,” said Judge Marilyn Nyrne. “According to the policy definition, there are no grounds to dismiss unvaccinated workers.”
Stellantis made a brief statement after the decision, but did not say how the suspended employees would return to work.
“We are very pleased with the arbitrator’s decision that the Stellantis vaccine policy is reasonable,” the company said. “Stellantis is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for more than 9,000 employees across Canada. We are carefully considering the decision before setting the next steps. ”
Ford requires full vaccination for its Canadian facilities and talks to them Detroit news, spokeswoman Kerry Stoakley said more than 95 percent of its employees have been vaccinated or released. His policy was extended from May 2 to July 4.
