After Nike, the workwear brand Carhartt has now announced that it wants to introduce compulsory vaccination for its employees. American conservatives and opponents of vaccination are outraged – and are calling for a boycott.
Carhartt is not only one of the most popular brands for work and leisure clothing in the United States. Now Republicans and the American New Right are calling for a boycott. The company had announced a general vaccination requirement for its employees on Thursday.
In hardly any western country is there such a deep gulf through the population as in the United States. Since the beginning of the pandemic, however, the distinction between the two social camps can no longer only be recognized by the political parties, socio-economic status or skin color, but also by the vaccination status.
Between Michigan and Hollywood
One brand that has historically been the exception to the rule has been Carhartt. The fashion group from Michigan was very popular with farmers on the Republican periphery as well as in the democratic metropolises. Since it was founded in 1889, it has stood for robust clothing for hard-working people.
In recent years, the group has also made a name for itself on the fashion scene in Europe and America with its “Work in Progress” line. Carhartt jeans and coats, similar to their major competitor Levi’s, have been seen on construction sites in the Rust Belt as well as on the red carpet at the Golden Globes.
For a long time, Carhartt seemed to have mastered this balancing act with ease. Now the company is experiencing a major shitstorm for the first time. The company has agreed with the union on a general obligation to vaccinate. By mid-January, each of the 5,500 employees in the United States should be able to show valid vaccination records.
Supreme Court overturns compulsory vaccination
Similar to Germany, the obligation to vaccinate is currently being debated in almost all broadcasters and magazines in America. The Supreme Court recently overturned US President Joe Biden’s plans for such an ordinance in state agencies. Unlike other big companies like Starbucks, which have since backed down from their original positions, Carhartt intends to stick to its internal vaccination requirements.
“The safety of our employees is the number one priority in our workplace. The Supreme Court’s decision does not change that attitude,” CEO Mark Valade announced during the week. “While we recognize that there are differences of opinion on this, management and our workers’ union do not want to compromise on the health protection of our employees. An unvaccinated proportion of the workforce is a risk we do not want to take.”
Conservatives call for a boycott
The discussion symbolizes the political handling of the Supreme Court decision. Shortly after Valade’s statement made the rounds on the Internet, several prominent members of the Republican party spoke up. Conservative attorney Moll McCann wrote on Twitter that the decision would be a slap in the face to the farmers and workers who made America great and who continue to defend their freedoms and values to this day. The self-confessed opponent of vaccination then called for a boycott of Carhartt.
On Thursday, the hashtag #boycottcarhartt trended on Twitter for a few hours. In addition to a flood of hateful comments and tweets, there was also understanding and support for the move. Georgia MP Rebecca Mitchell also backed the company.
The discussion probably caused particularly high waves, since sporting goods manufacturer Nike also announced last week that it wanted to stick to its vaccination requirement. Since January 15, all workers at Nike headquarters have lost their jobs for failing to comply with months-long vaccination calls.
Majority supports compulsory vaccination in the workplace
American opponents of vaccination increasingly feel cornered by the restrictions. The effects of an actual boycott are still manageable. National Public Radio (NPR) reports that only a few thousand workers are really willing to give up their jobs because of their vaccine skepticism. According to the broadcaster, these radical opponents of vaccination make up barely one percent of the workforce.
A study by the American opinion research institute Gallop determined in mid-December that 55 percent of the US workforce would welcome compulsory vaccination at the workplace. So far, however, only a third of employees are affected by such a regulation. The decision of the Supreme Court will probably not add much more.
Carhartt also told the US broadcaster CBS that the discussion on the Internet in no way reflects the atmosphere in the workplace. The majority of our own employees have been vaccinated for a long time. In addition, any request for religious or medical exemption from the rule would be considered impartially. The deadline originally set for mid-January has been extended to February 15.
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Source From: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
