By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A union representing more than 700,000. government workers asked the White House Tuesday for an extension of the Nov. 22 deadline to ensure that government employees are vaccinated against COVID-19. This was in line with a contractor’s date.

Last week, the White House extended the deadline for federal contractors who need to be vaccinated to Dec. 8, to Jan. 4. This is part of a larger move that aims to make compliance easier for businesses. Some companies are facing labor shortages during U.S. holidays.

“Setting different compliance deadlines for employees vis-à-vis contractors is both harmful to morale and substantively unjustified,” the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) wrote in an “urgent request,” noting contractors often work alongside federal employees.

According to AFGE President Everett Kelley, “This double-standard has created confusion and distress among federal workers.”

American Airlines (NASDAQ) and Southwest Airlines, (NYSE) have extended the deadline to vaccinate employees from Jan. 4th.

To be fully certified by Nov. 22, federal employees must have their final shots by Nov. 8, according to President Biden.

Unvaccinated federal employees who have not received a religious or medical exception are in violation of a lawful order https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations and face “discipline, up to and including termination or removal.”

Jeff Zients, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients stated last month that the goal of the administration was to get people immunized and not to penalize them.

Zients explained that agencies won’t remove federal employees until there is a counseling and education process.

A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget said that the AFGE Letter was necessary to “protect the federal workforce.”

The AFGE stated that Transportation Security Administration officers (TSA) are particularly affected by this deadline. It also said they were disappointed “by seemingly more favorable (postholiday), deadlines offered contractors.”

Rep. Sam Graves (the top Republican in the House Transportation Committee) and Representative Garret Graves wrote Monday to TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration about potential disruptions the COVID-19 mandate might have on U.S. air travel.

The authors wrote, “We are worried that vaccination mandates coupled with an existing worker shortage and expected return of holiday flight demand are compounding and creating the perfect storm.”