Chloe Ramirez
The Biden administration's vaccine mandate for federal employees initially caused some confusion over whether or not postal workers were included. Although the United States Postal Service is part of the US government, it is also a private entity, so its employees are exempt from the federal mandate. However, as one of the largest employers in the US, the USPS will have to comply with the guidelines set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for larger private sector companies. The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has stated its opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, claiming that it is not the role of the federal government to mandate vaccinations for its employees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are postal workers required to be vaccinated in the US? | No, they do not fall under President Biden's vaccine mandate for federal employees. |
| Why are postal workers exempt from the mandate? | The US Postal Service is a private entity, despite being part of the US government. |
| Do postal workers have to follow any COVID-19 guidelines? | Yes, the US Postal Service will have to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines for larger private sector companies. |
| What are the OSHA guidelines? | All companies with 100 or more employees must require their workers to be vaccinated or provide weekly negative COVID-19 test results. |
| What is the stance of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU)? | The APWU has stated its opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates by the Federal Government. |
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What You'll Learn
The US Postal Service is a private entity
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is an independent agency that has been largely self-funded since its reorganization in 1970. It is not a private entity. The USPS has faced financial difficulties in recent years, with competition from private companies like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx contributing to significant losses.
In 2025, former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk proposed privatizing the USPS to address these financial issues. Union leaders opposed this idea, arguing that the USPS is a public service that serves everyone, everywhere, regardless of location or profitability. They emphasized the unique role of the USPS in providing universal access to essential services at a standard price.
The USPS has a long history that predates the United States itself. Established in 1775 with Benjamin Franklin as postmaster general, the postal service played a pivotal role in unifying the colonies by spreading ideas of liberty and independence. Over the centuries, it has adapted to technological advancements, such as the introduction of air mail in 1911 and the challenges posed by the internet today.
Despite its financial challenges, the USPS remains committed to modernization and self-sustainability. The agency's former postmaster general, David Steiner, a former FedEx board member, opposed privatization and expressed optimism for the agency's future as an independent entity. The USPS continues to be a vital part of American infrastructure, delivering mail to millions of people across the country, from inner cities to rural areas.
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The Biden administration mandate for companies with over 100 employees
On September 9, 2021, President Joe Biden announced a series of proposals to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States more aggressively. One of these proposals included a new rule requiring employers with 100 or more employees to mandate that their workers be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. This mandate, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), applies to approximately 80 million workers in the country. Employers must ensure that all requirements of the ETS, except testing for employees who have not received their entire primary vaccination, are met by December 5, 2021, 30 days after publication. By January 5, 2022, 60 days after publication, employers must ensure compliance with the testing requirements for employees who have not received all doses required for a primary vaccination.
The Biden administration's vaccine mandate for companies with over 100 employees has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters argue that it will help decrease the spread of COVID-19 and reduce hospitalizations and deaths. They believe that it will protect vaccinated workers from unvaccinated colleagues and keep businesses open. However, critics argue that it is an extreme abuse of power that infringes on personal liberties and may negatively impact the economy. Some, like Mississippi's U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, have even joined a Congressional Review Act (CRA) challenge to overturn the mandate.
To encourage compliance with the mandate, the Biden administration has implemented fines for violations. Employers who violate the rule can face penalties of up to $13,653 for serious violations and ten times that amount for willful or repeated violations. Additionally, employers are required to provide paid time off for their workers to get vaccinated and recover from any side effects.
It is important to note that the U.S. Postal Service, a federal agency, was initially reported to be exempt from the Biden administration's vaccine mandate. However, it was later clarified that postal workers would be subject to the mandate through OSHA, highlighting the complex nature of vaccine policy implementation.
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The American Postal Workers Union opposes vaccine mandates
The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has come out in strong opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates for its members. Representing over 200,000 employees and retirees of the United States Postal Service, the APWU has made its stance clear in an official press release, stating that they oppose all COVID-19 vaccine mandates by the Federal Government. This move comes as a response to the Biden administration's declaration that all medical employees of the Veteran Affairs Department must be vaccinated.
The APWU's statement emphasizes that while they continue to encourage postal workers to voluntarily get vaccinated, they believe it is not the role of the federal government to mandate vaccinations for their employees. They assert that issues related to vaccinations and testing for COVID-19 in the workplace must be negotiated with the union. This position aligns with the belief in the principle of voluntary informed consent, which protects an individual's right to control their own body.
The APWU's stance against vaccine mandates is significant, as it is one of the largest unions to take such a position. The union's National Executive Board even endorsed Joe Biden during the 2020 election, but their statement indicates a shift in support. The APWU's opposition to vaccine mandates has been met with both support and criticism, with some praising their stand against what they see as authoritarian mandates, while others question the motivation behind the union's actions.
The debate around vaccine mandates for postal workers is complex, and it has sparked discussions about the role of the government in public health decisions. While the APWU encourages voluntary vaccination, they firmly oppose any mandatory vaccination policies for their members, believing that individual choice and consent are essential. This stance has made the APWU a prominent voice in the ongoing discussions about vaccine mandates in the United States.
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The mandate does not apply to federal workers
Although President Biden announced a vaccine mandate for federal employees, postal workers do not fall under this mandate. This is because the United States Postal Service is a private entity, despite being part of the US government. It is the third-largest employer in the US, with a workforce of around 600,000 people.
The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has stated that it opposes all Covid-19 vaccine mandates by the Federal Government. The APWU will review the emergency rule when it is released and discuss it with their attorneys before releasing additional information on how it applies to postal workers. The APWU leadership continues to encourage postal workers to voluntarily get vaccinated but maintains that it is not the role of the federal government to mandate vaccinations for its employees.
Jamal Greene, a constitutional law professor at Columbia University, pointed out that the mandate is not a vaccine requirement but strongly encourages employers to get their employees vaccinated. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act exemptions will apply, and employees who aren't vaccinated will be required to provide weekly proof of a negative Covid-19 test result. This gives employees an opt-out from getting the vaccine.
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OSHA's authority to enforce the mandate
In November 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) mandating that employers with more than 100 employees require their employees to either undergo weekly COVID-19 testing or become fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022. This was the first time in nearly four decades that OSHA had issued such a mandate.
However, the authority of OSHA to enforce this mandate was quickly called into question. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the mandate's enforcement, pending further review. The court held that the OSH Act did not give OSHA the constitutional authority to make "sweeping pronouncements on matters of public health." The court also noted that the mandate was improperly tailored, characterizing it as a "blunt instrument" that did not consider industry or risk of exposure to COVID-19.
The case was then transferred to the Sixth Circuit, which reinstated the mandate. This court held that OSHA's authority includes protection against infectious diseases and that it made sense for OSHA to use medical exams and vaccinations as tools. However, the Supreme Court ultimately reversed the Sixth Circuit's decision, granting a stay of the mandate's enforcement. The Supreme Court agreed with the Fifth Circuit, finding that the petitioners were likely to succeed on the merits of their case and that the Secretary of Labor lacked the authority to impose the mandate. The Court emphasized that OSHA's power is limited to setting workplace safety standards and that COVID-19 is not solely a work-related danger.
While OSHA has been a key player in the discussion of vaccine mandates, it is important to note that its authority is limited to enforcing workplace safety standards, and its ability to mandate vaccines is constrained by legal and constitutional considerations.
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Frequently asked questions
Postal workers in the US do not fall under President Biden's vaccine mandate for federal employees. However, they may have to comply with the mandate for companies with over 100 employees.
The US Postal Service is part of the US government, but it is also a private entity. It is the third-largest employer in the US with a workforce of around 600,000.
The APWU, which represents over 222,000 workers, opposes all COVID-19 vaccine mandates by the Federal Government. They encourage postal workers to voluntarily get vaccinated but do not want it to be mandated.
The mandate encourages employers to get their employees vaccinated, but it is not a requirement. Employees who are not vaccinated have to provide weekly proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
