ELMA, N.Y. — An alliance of Moog employees are pursuing legal action against both the company and the federal government.

The Elma, New York-based employer manufactures aerospace, defense and industrial devices. Its workers are federally contracted and thus fall under an executive order saying they must get vaccinated by Jan. 18.

On October 25, more than 200 Moog employees walked out to protest the mandate.

Matt Schieber said he's part of a national group chat of around 700 to 800 employees who believe requiring employees to get vaccinated is an abuse of power.

"The more that comes out, the more employees that we gain behind our cause because we keep finding out more and more about the boosters that are going to be required, the tracking apps on our smartphones that are going to be required to stay compliant," said Schieber. "The more information that we get from Moog and the federal government, the more employees who are vaccinated are joining our side."

Schieber says they've already raised more than $60,000 dollars to help fight the mandate in court.

Spectrum News 1 has reached out to the aerospace company for comment.

An attorney for Moog Inc. sent a letter on Monday addressing the matter which read in part:

"The vaccination requirements now mandated by the U.S. Government present a complex and challenging issue for federal contractors and for their employees. We respect the rights of employees to make individual choices that they believe are in their best interest. Mr. Scannell stated in his memo to employees that the full vaccination mandate as imposed by the contractual clause is not the approach we would have taken given a choice. Also as expressed by Mr. Scannell, the health and safety of our employees is a top priority along with the financial health of our company.

"We appreciate your passion and advocacy regarding individual rights, regulatory procedural requirements, and limitations on the power of the federal government to direct our lives. The management of Moog, however, will not join, endorse, or support the bringing of a lawsuit to challenge the vaccination mandate as currently being implemented and imposed on federal contractors. We will adhere to contract requirements."