Transit workers fired for refusing COVID vaccines on religious grounds awarded $1.3M each

Six San Francisco nationalist carrier labor who were fired for refusing to get COVID-19 vaccines person been awarded much than $1 cardinal each.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit [BART] labor revenge a favoritism suit saying they were wrongly terminated for refusing nan vaccine connected “sincerely held belief beliefs.”

Federal jurors this week awarded nan group a full of $7.8 million, aliases $1.3 cardinal each.

The six BART labor were awarded $7.8 million. Gado via Getty Images

An charismatic for BART, which connects nan San Francisco Peninsula pinch communities successful nan East and South Bays, told KRON 4 it had “no comment” connected nan ruling.

BART issued a caller COVID-19 vaccination argumentation successful October 2021 that required each labor to beryllium afloat vaccinated.

Those who asked for exemptions because of “sincerely held belief beliefs” were fired, nan plaintiffs’ attorneys alleged successful nan lawsuit, revenge by nan Pacific Justice Institute.

“Exclusion of belief group from nan enjoyment of a correct stands successful usurpation of nan First Amendment’s belief clauses and national and authorities anti-discrimination successful employment laws. 109 employees’ requests for belief exemption were denied,” nan suit said.

BART officials grounded to beryllium an undue hardship and nan six labor had revealed a genuine conflict betwixt their religion and nan vaccine, nan assemblage ruled Wednesday.

“The obstruction labor chose to suffer their livelihood alternatively than contradict their faith,” said lead proceedings lawyer Kevin Snyder said.

“That successful itself shows nan sincerity and extent of their convictions. After astir 3 years of struggle, these basal workers consciousness they were heard and understood by nan assemblage and are overjoyed and relieved by nan verdict.”

The $7.8 cardinal payout was calculated from mislaid wages, positive $1 million, for each fired employee.