Thousands of unvaccinated New York City government employees faced a deadline to get vaccinated or be fired on Friday (11th), and despite the outcry from union leaders over the vaccination order, it was clear that New York City Mayor Eric Adams might not be shaken. Decide.
Fewer than 4,000 of the city’s 370,000 civil servants faced layoffs due to vaccination orders by the end of January, according to the mayor’s office, and an update on the number of city officials affected is expected on Monday.
Although the most recent figures represent only regarding 1% of the New York City workforce, this would be the largest layoff in the nation due to vaccination orders.
“The city didn’t fire them, they chose to leave,” Adams stressed Thursday. “I want them to stay, I want them to be New York City civil servants, but they have to abide by the rules.”
Even as the outbreak caused by the Omicron variant slows and New York prepares to join other U.S. states and cities in lifting many COVID-19 restrictions, the mayor seems intent on enforcing the layoff. Former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, ordered the vaccination of all public and private-sector public servants in the city in December.
Andrew Ansbro, president of the New York City Firefighters’ Union, condemned the dismissal decision, saying it was unfair because of mandatory vaccination orders and stressed that the current rule, which allows members to take a year of unpaid leave, makes no clear and permanent reason to fire anyone.
Harry Nespoli, president of the Cleaning Board Workers’ Union, said the service would be affected by the inexperience of the newly recruited staff following the dismissal.
Gregory Floyd, president of Teamsters Local 237, which represents regarding 18,000 public servants in New York City, believes the city should delay firing any public servant who is unable or unwilling to be vaccinated until the courts take up the case.
