Federal jury awards BART workers fired over Covid vaccine mandate to receive more than $1 million each

SAN FRANCISCO– A federal jury sided with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) workers who sued the agency, claiming they lost their jobs because of the Covid vaccine mandate.

There are six people in total in the case, and each will receive more than $1 million.

PRE: Federal grand jury deliberates over BART workers fired over Covid vaccine mandate

The employees requested a religious exemption from the vaccine requirement but said they were denied space by the transit agency and subsequently lost their jobs.

BART initially granted vaccine exemptions, but the plaintiffs argued they were denied a seat. The accommodation could have meant they could work from home or get regular COVID testing. They argued that none of this happened and that they lost their jobs.

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BART is now required to pay a total of $7.8 million to all six former employees.

BART is a transit agency currently worth between $350 million and $400 million, but BART’s board voted eight to one for a vaccine mandate in 2021.

BART did not comment on Wednesday’s decision.