Six San Francisco public transit workers fired for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 received more than $1 million each.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) employees filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming they were wrongfully fired for refusing the vaccine based on “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

Federal jurors this week awarded the group a total of $7.8 million and $1.3 million each.

An official with BART, which connects the San Francisco Peninsula with communities in the East and South Bay, told KRON 4 there was “no comment” on the ruling.

BART issued a new COVID-19 vaccination policy in October 2021 that requires all employees to be fully vaccinated.

Those who sought exemptions because of “sincerely held religious beliefs” were fired, plaintiffs’ lawyers allege in the lawsuit filed by the Pacific Justice Institute.

“The exclusion of religious people from exercising a right violates the religion clauses of the First Amendment and federal and state anti-discrimination provisions in employment laws. 109 employees' requests for religious exemptions were denied,” the lawsuit says .

BART officials failed to show undue hardship and the six employees had revealed a genuine conflict between their faith and the vaccine, the jury ruled Wednesday.

“The railroad employees chose to lose their livelihood rather than deny their faith,” said lead trial attorney Kevin Snyder.

“That alone shows the sincerity and depth of their beliefs. After nearly three years of fighting, these essential workers feel heard and understood by the jury and are overjoyed and relieved by the verdict.”

The $7.8 million payout was calculated as lost wages plus $1 million for each employee laid off.