Date: 202103
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Physiological - Other; Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: While working [sector] X there were significant areas of weather that were impeding aircraft transitioning the sector.  One area in particular was south of ZZZ and it was causing large deviations for aircraft inbound to ZZZ.  Due to a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that drastically alters Controller's working conditions on sector; which mandates the wear of facial coverings due to COVID-19 communication began to break down with aircraft on frequency.  While trying to describe the precipitation to pilots the mask created interference and the pilots could not decipher what I was trying to relay; which was weather that would affect their route.  This was especially the case with a handful of aircraft inbound to ZZZ that needed information on the weather and on the other aircraft they would have to follow into their destination airport.  My only option was to remove the face covering so that I could communicate directly and effectively to the aircrews trying to navigate these storms.  I am simply trying to comply with the duty priority.  Management at this Center is more concerned with complying with the MOU regarding face coverings than they are about safely moving aircraft about the National Aerospace System. If I were to be seen without my face covering on sector I would undoubtedly be reprimanded for the 'face mask violation.'  Ironically enough; if I were to not be able to communicate with the aircrews effectively and they enter an area of severe turbulence associated with thunderstorms I would also be reprimanded by management.  We have now entered a situation where controllers are going to be forced to decide what is more important; the aircraft on frequency or the arbitrary rules being enforced by management due to a 'pandemic' that is now over a year old that has proven to represent little-to-no risk to the controlling workforce. By the end of the session I had several instances where separation errors almost occurred because of deviating aircraft and having to repeat transmissions to climbing/descending aircraft...this was even after I removed the face covering.I would recommend that someone in the Air Traffic Organization stand up for the safety of the system and issue some direction for controllers that need to communicate with aircrews.  It is unreasonable to expect controllers to day after day wear a face mask while on position that causes distractions and limits the ability to safely conduct air traffic control procedures.  There is currently no direction as to when a Controller can remove a face mask in order to promote safety.




Synopsis: Center Controller reported having difficulty communicating with pilots while wearing a face mask and stated that the requirement to wear face masks causes distractions and limits the ability to safely conduct air traffic control procedures.