Layoffs file a lawsuit
Dispute over compulsory corona vaccination at Swiss escalates
Some of the dismissed Swiss flight attendants are going to court. They are suing their old employer because of the mandatory vaccination that Swiss decided in autumn 2021.
Published: 23 minutes ago
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Updated: 16 minutes ago
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Swiss cabin crew have had to be vaccinated against Corona since November 2021.
Nicholas ImfeldEditor Economics
In mid-November 2021, the airline Swiss introduced compulsory corona vaccination for its cabin crew and pilots. The vast majority had already been vaccinated at that time – or had been vaccinated against Covid-19 in good time. But around 150 flight attendants resisted the spade. They were released last year.
Now ex-Swiss employees are taking their old employer to court. On January 13, 2023, the first lawsuit was filed by “Airliners for Humanity”, according to an internal statement from the association, which is available to Blick. Where remains unknown. Behind the merger is a “group of vaccinated, unvaccinated, boosted, recovered and, unfortunately, already terminated employees”, as it says on their website.
It is unclear who exactly is behind the online offer. No one appears in public by name. Blick requests from “Airliners for Humanity” also remain unanswered.
Judgment expected by the end of the year
The association is suing on behalf of the dismissed Swiss crews for “unjustified and abusive termination”. “This lawsuit comprises around 50 pages and is supplemented by several hundred pages of enclosures,” writes “Airliners for Humanity” in the internal statement.
Now it is the turn of Swiss to comment in writing. The association expects the main hearing to take place in court in late summer or autumn. By the end of the year, a first-instance and final judgment should have been made. The club also intends to file a corresponding lawsuit for a single pilot in a few weeks.
Swiss does not regret compulsory vaccination
When asked by Blick, Swiss writes that they are not yet aware of the complaint by “Airliners for Humanity”. Vaccination is still compulsory – however, the flight attendants do not have to get a booster, a one-time double vaccination against Corona is enough to fly with Swiss.
The Swiss makes it clear that there is no regret about the vaccination requirement for flying personnel. “The mandatory vaccination was introduced for welfare and operational reasons.” And further: “Vaccination still offers the best protection against severe disease progression and still corresponds to the recommendations of the relevant specialist authorities.”
Despite the general easing of entry regulations, the requirements at some destinations are still strict and could continue to change at short notice. In addition, there is still some uncertainty as to how the situation will develop.
“In addition, different handling by the crew members would result in a high level of complexity in operational planning and would represent unequal treatment,” said Swiss. “For these reasons, we are sticking to the compulsory vaccination, all crew members have a valid vaccination certificate.”
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