Justice Department Moves To Begin Enforcing Federal Mandate Again.
A total mess about to unfold.
As we reported earlier the Biden Administration won a court decision last week to reinstate the Federal workers mandate. This did not instantly allow the Feds to start enforcement of the mandate immediately. A memo went out to all wildfire supervisors on Friday to hold off on any enforcement pending another ruling.
Today, Monday, The Justice Department asked the Court to allow the Feds to immediately start enforcement again which would remove anyone who had not taken the MRNA vaccine by date of hire. An unpaid suspension would first be imposed for permanent employees of the fire industry. Then termination if they go without compliance after a set period of time.
The administration is also deciding this week wether to consider only boosted employees as “fully vaccinated.”
REMEMBER : I put out a poll last Thursday asking if active duty firefighters knew anyone who left, was forced out, or didn’t apply due specifically to the mandate. Nearly 800 firefighters responded. 75% of those who responded said they did indeed know a firefighter that this occurred to.
As I reported on last Friday’s podcast the Forest Service admitted to losing 40% of their work force in the last two years in Congressional testimony. This has created such a mess in our industry that I don’t know how long it’ll take to recover, especially if supervisors are asked to enforce a new round of the mandate right as fire season kicks off.
Religious exemptions will still be accepted.
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