Grounded by Vaccine Exemption: Married United Pilots Feel Betrayed

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Diversity, equity, inclusion; this has been the mantra of United Airlines. United pilots Stephanie and Kyle Atteberry thought the company meant it.

“United has been great to us,” Kyle, 45, told The Epoch Times. He recalls receiving blankets from the company as gifts when their six children were born. “Our expectations were, United would honor our faith.”

Kyle and wife Stephanie, 40, live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Their jobs, flying Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft, routinely took them around the world until Oct. 1, the last day United allowed them to fly.

The couple is not getting the COVID-19 vaccine. They are among the 2,000 United employees who requested reasonable accommodations through medical or religious exemptions from the vaccine mandate. As an accommodation, United placed them on unpaid leave indefinitely. The 2,000 employees are part of Airline Employees 4 Health Freedom, a group legally challenging being placed on unpaid leave.

“They’ve already shown us what a reasonable accommodation looks like, because we’ve been doing it for a year and a half,” Kyle said. “Now they say I’m unsafe to come to work?”

While President Joe Biden announced in September mandatory vaccines for certain workers, United was already signaling in May that it was moving to a mandatory vaccine program.

In May, the company sent employees a letter with an incentive offer: pay for 13 hours of flight time, amounting to $2,600, for those who got vaccinated. And there was a penalty: those who did not get the shot would not be able to fly to as many international destinations. That means less work available for the unvaccinated. From there, the list of countries unvaccinated pilots could not fly to grew, until Germany was the only international place where the Atteberrys could fly.

Now they are both on unpaid leave.

“I feel betrayed by the airline that says it is all about love and respect, and yet here we are being sidelined. And seeing other airlines accommodating their employees—it’s frustrating,” Kyle said.

The stress of working through the situation has loomed over them for months.

“It’s like a decay in my bones—like a shakiness in my soul,” Stephanie told The Epoch Times. “But that has gone away as the Lord has provided an amazing sense of peace for me.”

By Beth Brelje

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

Airline Employees 4 Health Freedom

About Airline Employees 4 Health Freedom

Airline Employees 4 Health Freedom Mission: To protect our right to bodily autonomy and faith-based reasonable accommodations for all employees across all industries.

Airline Employees 4 Health Freedom believes it is your right to request a reasonable accommodation, in lieu of forced vaccinations, to maintain your bodily autonomy under the Americans with Disabilities Act or a faith-based reasonable accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

We is a group of airline employees who are legally challenging our employer’s decision to place us on unpaid leave, in essence, terminate us, as a form of reasonable accommodation. We believe the right to worship as we see fit is our choice. 

Additionally, we believe all medical decisions should be made by the individual, in consultation with their doctor, not their employer. 

Please consider helping us as our precedence-setting effort will solidify case law for future generations. We have an opportunity to return our nation to its intended flight path. Please join us.

 “If not me, then who? If not now, then when?”

Visit the Airline Employees 4 Health Freedom Website

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Government Shutdown, Health Care, Tax Breaks=Perfect Storm

The shutdown over cuts to health subsidies for the poor stems from Trump’s OBBB plan, which critics say funneled trillions to the wealthy.

3I/Atlas Comet or UFO Arrives Tomorrow!

The 3I/Atlas object is hurtling toward our solar system on a strange path and composition, set to pass behind the sun, obscuring visual and radio tracking.

‘I’d Be Finished’: Vaccine Researcher Trashes Own Study to Save Career

Most doctors comply with the system, following orders to keep their jobs, income, and prestige, even if it means setting aside independent judgment.

Kamala, Please Run Again

Kamala Harris hinted she wants to run for President in 2028, despite poor poll numbers and her loss in 2024. If she runs, the big winners will be the GOP.

Rosie O’Donnell vs. Her Therapist

Rosie O’Donnell's therapist attempted to artfully introduce to her client to the possibility that Rosie's outrage might be performative. It didn’t take.

Elon Musk Launches AI-Powered Grokipedia as Rival to Wikipedia

On Oct. 28 Elon Musk launched Grokipedia, an open-source, AI-powered encyclopedia serving as an alternative to Wikipedia.

Federal Judge Extends Order Blocking Firings During Shutdown

A federal judge on Oct. 28 indefinitely blocked the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Los Angeles Dethrones Chicago as ‘Rattiest’ US City

Los Angeles has dethroned Chicago as the “rattiest” U.S. city after more than a decade, becoming the new top haven for rodents.

Prediction of Climate Catastrophe Loses Some of Its Strongest Advocates

Bill Gates says the “doomsday view” of climate catastrophe is wrong, signaling a major shift in the global warming debate.

Trump, Japanese PM Sign Critical Minerals, Rare Earths Deal

The U.S. president visited Tokyo on the second leg...

Trump Hikes Canada’s Tariffs by 10 Percent for Not Pulling Anti-Tariff Ad Immediately

Trump announced he will increase tariffs on Canada by 10% after ad by provincial government of Ontario misrepresented President Reagan’s speech on tariffs.

Trump Rolls Back Emissions Rules on Copper Smelters

President Trump issued a proclamation aimed at reversing a Biden-era environmental rule that enforced stricter air emission standards on copper smelters.

Donor Gives $130 Million to Cover Shortfall in Troop Pay During Shutdown

Trump announced on Oct. 23 that an anonymous donor sent $130M to cover military pay during the ongoing government shutdown.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central