US nuclear lab workers sue over vaccine mandate
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Workers at one of the nation’s premier nuclear weapons laboratories face a deadline, Friday — be vaccinated or prepare to be fired.
A total of 114 workers at Los Alamos National Laboratory — the birthplace of the atomic bomb — are suing over the mandate, saying exemptions have been unduly denied and their constitutional rights are being violated by Triad National Security LLC, the contractor that runs the lab for the US Department of Energy.
It will be up to a state district judge whether to grant an injunction to prevent employees from being fired while the merits of the case are decided. A hearing was underway, Thursday.
The lawsuit alleges that lab management has been harassing employees and has created a hostile work environment.
The complaint outlines the experiences of many of the workers, including one who was screamed at for not being vaccinated and was told by a fellow crew member that he and his family deserved to die.
The lab has declined to comment on the lawsuit and has not answered questions about the current vaccination rate among employees, whether any exemptions have been approved or what would happen to employees who refuse to be inoculated when Friday rolls around.
The plaintiffs include scientists, nuclear engineers, project managers, research technicians and others who have some of the highest security clearances in the nation for the work they do. Some employees said many of those who could lose their jobs are specialists in their fields and would be difficult to replace in the short term.
Some of the employees who are part of the lawsuit have worked for Los Alamos lab for decades, while others are newer hires who have relocated to New Mexico from other states and countries. Thirty-four of them are named in the lawsuit and 80 have opted to remain anonymous, citing fears of retaliation.
While the lab said last week that more than 96% of workers had at least one shot, it’s not known yet how many have received a second dose. Some workers have estimated that the percentage of those fully vaccinated by Friday will be lower.
Some employees have estimated the lab could lose anywhere from 4% to 10% of the workforce because of the mandate.
“In any organization there are people, not always recognized, who quietly make the work of others possible. Lose them, and you are in trouble,” said Greg Mello of the Los Alamos Study Group, a watchdog group that has been monitoring lab activities for years.
The lab currently employs nearly 14,000 and is among the largest employers in New Mexico.