These differing views shed light on an internal debate that both unions are still battling over. School officials in the South are fighting with parents and governors about mask-wearing requirements. There has also been a worrying rise in infections among children.Instead, AFT union officials voted to encourage their workers to negotiate potential mandates to local governments and school system.Randi Weingarten, AFT President, stated that we believe workplace policies should be designed with workers and not against them.We believe that education and voluntary adoption are the best ways to increase vaccinations. However, we want to be able to work with employers to implement workplace vaccination policies. She added, "so people who require it can get accommodations. This will ensure everyone has access to vaccines and enough time to get them. And no one is being penalized because of religious or medical reasons."Both labor organizations have endorsed Covid-19 vaccines. They also regularly boast survey results from earlier in the year which showed that 80 to 90% of their teachers were vaccinated. They insist that employers and workers negotiate the terms of any vaccine requirements. It is unclear how union messages, which are being proposed to mandate vaccines for school workers in the future, will impact talks between local educators, schools systems, and cities that have not yet issued mandates.A resolution by the AFT was approved at an internal meeting on Wednesday. It outlines the importance of vaccinations and calls for union representatives to meet employers to discuss possible accommodations, such as regular testing for viruses in workers who are not vaccinated.This language is a subtle, but significant shift in Weingarten's recent public campaign for mandates. Last week, she announced that the union would reconsider its opposition to compulsory shots. She also stated that her personal belief is that the union should work with employers and not oppose them on vaccine mandates.California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Governor, enacted Wednesday's first ever statewide vaccine or test requirement for teachers and school workers. He was supported by the two largest teachers unions in the state, the California Teachers Association (CAT) and the California Federation of Teachers. Others cities such as Denver and Washington have also adopted their own requirements.Jerry Jordan, President of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, stated that his union supported Weingarten's position and was ready to support a negotiated mandate for staff.Jordan stated in written testimony that Jordan gave Wednesday to a statehouse committee about collective bargaining. This includes important exemptions for religious and medical reasons. All items related to working conditions must be implemented using the collective bargaining process. Let me make it clear, this union has never stood in the way of students and educators' safety and health.Miguel Cardona, Education Secretary, also joined the chorus Wednesday by stating that he supports the Covid-19 vaccination for teachers as the country prepares to start another school year affected by the pandemic.Cardona stated that he would support the vaccine being mandatory. He also said that he believes some adults who are reluctant to get the vaccine will reconsider their decision once the FDA has approved them. Anthony Fauci, the White House chief medical advisor, also supported mandatory teacher vaccinations. He said that the country is in a crisis situation due to a large surge in Covid-19s Delta variant.One union official admitted that there is some disagreement over fully supporting vaccine mandates."There are some of you that agree there should be an mandate," stated Zeph Capo of the Texas American Federation of Teachers."People are at different stages in their lives, but they all understand how important it is to listen to doctors and do everything possible to stop this pandemic. He said that getting people vaccinated is the key to achieving this goal.
