Federal Judge Won't Exempt SSA Workers From Pandemic Protocols

A U.S. District Court judge has again rejected the efforts of eleven Steamship Authority employees to be exempted from the company's coronavirus vaccine mandate.

Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled for the second time against the employees, who claim their First Amendment rights were being violated.

In his ruling, the judge noted that granting religious exemptions to the eleven would create a higher risk of infection and transmission of COVID-19.

The group had first filed in February 2022, and Stearns turned aside their request the following month.

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