New York (CNN Business)United Airlines will join the growing list of companies that are requiring employees get vaccinated against Covid-19, the first major US airline to implement such a mandate. A United executive said it was not considering a similar rule for passengers, and that any such requirement would be a decision for the government. The airline set a late October deadline for US-based employees to prove vaccination status, and said it could move earlier if a vaccine receives full federal approval sooner. Any employee who refuses to show proof of vaccination will be fired, unless they can provide proof of religious or medical reasons for not getting vaccinated.

A United spokesperson said the airline will consider on a case-by-case basis employees who seek those health or religious exemptions, and that those employees granted exemptions will have to wear masks at all times.

United said while it has had discussions with its unions on the new rules it has not reached agreements with them. The three of the largest unions at the airline — the Association of Flight Attendants, the Air Line Pilots Association and the Teamsters, which represents 6,600 mechanics at the airline — all issued statements to their members Friday suggesting the unions will accept the mandate. The flight attendants’ union said 80% of its members are vaccinated, while the pilots’ union said more than 90% for its members.”Experts agree, vaccination is our best defense against Covid-19 and the extension of harm,” said the notice from the flight attendants union to its members. “We’ve seen a notable uptick of test positives over the last two weeks, [the] majority of which are unvaccinated Flight Attendants, though some breakthrough infections have been recorded.”The pilots union’s statement was more cautious, saying it believes the mandate “warrants further negotiations to ensure our safety, welfare, and bargaining rights are maintained.” The group also said it believes recent court decisions suggest that “employer mandate would be determined to be lawful” if it were to be challenged in court.

Read more By Gregory Wallace and Chris Isidore, CNN Business ……..