A vaccine mandate for contractors working on federal projects could make it more difficult for those projects to be completed.
So says the Associated Builders and Contractors in response to a guidance issued by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force mandating contractor vaccines.
In a public letter sent to that task force, Ben Brubeck, vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs for ABC, contends that construction workers opposed to mandatory vaccines are likely to leave their current federal contractor employer and seek employment elsewhere.
“Should it withstand legal challenge, a vaccine mandate for federal contractor employees is likely to further exacerbate the labor shortage and undermine federal contractors’ ability to meet contractual obligations to build projects that are critical to national security and other federal government objective,” Brubeck says.
Brubeck further contends that an unanticipated result of any new vaccine mandates will see “fewer federal construction companies” pursuing federal contracting opportunities.
“Instead,” says Brubeck, “they will choose to pursue private and government contracts not subject to vaccine mandates.”
The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force was formed under the auspices of the General Services Administration and Office of Personnel Management.
The mission of the task force has been to provide the heads of various federal agencies with guidance pertaining to Covid 19 protocols.
Last week the workforce announced that all federal contractor employees must be fully vaccinated no later than December 8.
By Garry Boulard
