© Anthony Behar
NY: NYC Mayor And NYPD Commissioner Press Conference On Vaccine Mandate Status
NEW YORK (77WABC) — Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday agreements with four labor unions regarding the City’s vaccination mandate, including on exemption requests and leave policies.
The unions who have signed the agreement are: DC 37, Teamsters Local 237, Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association Local 831, and SEIU Local 300, who collectively represent approximately 75,000 employees (excluding members employed at the Department of Education or NYC Health +Hospitals).
“Vaccinations are critical to our recovery and our city workforce is leading the way,” said de Blasio. “92 percent of city employees have stepped up and gotten vaccinated, and this agreement ensures a fair process for those seeking exemptions. Thank you to these unions for working with us to keep New Yorkers safe.”
Under the agreement, employees who have applied for an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or religious reasons will receive an initial decision from the agency, then have the option to appeal that decision. Employees also retain the option of appealing to an internal city panel who would decide the exemption as required by applicable law.
This agreement confirms the City’s right to place unvaccinated employees without an exemption on leave without pay with health benefits effective November 1, or after denial of exemption request depending on the date exemption request was submitted.
Employees on leave without pay may choose to voluntarily separate from service and can maintain health insurance through June 30, 2022. Employees on leave without pay may also elect to extend the leave until June 30 of next year, but agree to separate voluntarily with waiver of right to challenge if not vaccinated by that date. In addition, any employee who gets vaccinated while on leave can return to work at their same work location.
As part of the agreement, the unions have agreed to withdraw lawsuits filed last month which challenged the City’s right to implement the mandate.
