On January 26, 2022, OSHA withdrew its COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard, which required large employers to ensure that their employees either get vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo regular COVID-19 testing.
In Canada Post Corporation and Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the arbitrator denied CUPW’s cease and desist application filed under the collective agreement, which arose when the employer imposed a mandatory vaccination policy.
Governor Murphy has signed an order requiring that healthcare workers and those at high-risk congregate settings be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including receipt of a booster shot, or have their employment terminated.
In Teamster’s Local Union 847 v. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the arbitrtor denied a union’s grievance over an employer’s policy that required its employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to disclose their vaccine status.
Ontario announced that commencing January 31, 2022, in the absence of concerning trends, it would begin to take steps to cautiously and gradually ease public health measures in phases with 21 days between each step.
In Bunge Hamilton Canada, Hamilton, Ontario v. United Food and Commercial Workers Canada, Local 175 (Bunge), Arbitrator Robert J. Herman dismissed a union grievance challenging the employer’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.
With the Supreme Court’s consideration of challenges to the OSHA and CMS vaccine mandates making headlines, less attention has been paid to the federal contractor vaccine mandate even though it remains a separate topic of continuing interest for many.
