No Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General Work Refused
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy
I contacted First Officer X to notify him of my desire to wear masks on the flight deck. The FO replied that he did not want to wear a mask in the cockpit. As per policy we both agreed to contact the Union. The Union notified me that they would contact me. They called me to give me the option to remove myself from the trip either with or without pay. I was informed that I could be removed from the trip by using my vacation time thereby retaining my pay. The other option was to be removed from the trip without pay and suffer no other adverse consequences. Although I did not believe that the offers to remove myself from the trip were fair; I felt compelled to drop the trip because of my desire to protect myself from potentially being exposed to COVID-19 on the flight deck. The practice of offering crew members the option of taking vacation time is not sustainable. Considering the variables of the extended time COVID-19 may be affecting operations as well as personal choice to refuse mask wearing; one's vacation time could potentially be quickly exhausted. The company mandates pilots that masks be worn in all public places upon reporting to work to include the employee bus; the terminal; and the cabin to protect ourselves and others. This leads me to question why; when COVID-19 cases among pilots are growing; there is no direction strongly encouraging the wearing of masks even when it is not currently FAA directed.
Air carrier Captain reported the First Officer did not want to wear a mask in the cockpit. The Captain decided due to concerns about exposure to COVID-19; to take the only option given of dropping the trip.