![]() As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to take up the issue of whether vaccine mandates in the workplace are legal, a Louisiana federal judge has issued a ruling specifically applying to workers for the federal Head Start program. Judge Terry Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana has issued a preliminary injunction against the federal mandate as earlier instituted by President Biden. Specifically addressing the mandate as it impacts the pre-K Head Start education program, Doughty declared that the executive branch does not have the power to impose a vaccine mandate without the express approval of Congress. The mandate has proven particularly controversial within the construction industry. The Associated General Contractors of America in December filed a suit in federal court claiming that the mandate was economically burdensome to builders. While noting that the AGC supports vaccines in general, Stephen Sandherr, chief executive of the group, said a mandate “will only drive vaccine-hesitate workers” to seek work elsewhere. Sandherr also said that the mandate would have the effect of making federal construction projects “slower, harder, and more expensive.” According to the Center for Construction Research and Training, while around 80% of workers in other occupations have been vaccinated, only a little over 50% of all construction workers were in that category as of this fall. Biden announced in late September that the federal government was mandating vaccinations for all federal employees, as well as employees with companies doing work for the government. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on the mandate this week. By Garry Boulard
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