The New York City Council’s Common Sense Caucus gathered on the steps of City Hall with unvaccinated city workers last week to introduce a resolution supporting state legislation that would reinstate all city employees who were fired for not complying with the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Co-sponsored by NYC Councilwoman Joann Ariola and Minority Leader Joseph Borelli, the resolution, while non-binding and unlikely to be passed by the full Council, advocates for the passage of S7466A, the senate bill sponsored by NYS Senator Andrew J. Lanza.
“We’ve gathered here today because for the past two years, thousands of hard-working New Yorkers have been prevented from working at their jobs, jobs that they love,” Ariola said. “All for refusing to take the vaccine, a vaccine that is no longer mandated.”
Last week’s rally took place on Thursday, Feb. 8, which marked the first anniversary since the city ended the vaccine mandate for public and private sector workers. Yet despite the mandate being lifted, many of the 1,700 fired city workers have still not returned to work due to a waiver requirement that forces them to forfeit their civil service rights and rights to back pay in exchange for their jobs back.
“A piece of paper is all that stands between them and going back to work, going back to work in a city that is seriously under headcount in all of our essential services, as well as our educational services and our first responders,” Ariola added. “These are men and women we must get back to work. They have been wrongfully removed from their positions.”
Throughout the rally, numerous city workers who lost their jobs due to the mandate spoke of their experiences as well as those of their colleagues.
Michael Kane of the Teachers For Choice recalled how unvaccinated city workers felt isolated when the mandate was first rolled out two years ago, adding that they were often called names and ostracized for their decision to not take the COVID-19 vaccine.
“In the beginning, we were alone,” said Kane, a teacher of 15 years. “But history, while it turns at a long and winding road, it bends in the direction of truth. That’s where we’re headed now,” he added. “We’re suing because we were discriminated against because of our sincerely-held religious beliefs.”
Sal Maita of the Bravest For Choice echoed Kane’s remarks, adding that the goal of their movement is to appeal to the “humanity” of Mayor Eric Adams, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the Law Department, and elected officials on both sides of the aisle in hopes that it will inspire them to reinstate city workers without barriers like the waiver.
“It is now over two years since the pandemic propagated a scourge and a purge that turned our lives upside down,” said Maita, an FDNY firefighter of 15 years. “We must continue to fight. If we don’t, there’s other things coming down the line.”
7 comments:
No way should this pandering legislation pass. Actions have consequences, they knew what they were and they chose to stay unvaccinated. No do overs. Ok if they want to give them jobs back, but NO BACK PAY. The rest of us should in no way have to pay for their stupidity.
Seems like common sense for every sane thinking person.
Free speech is saying the quiet part out loud.
Lets Go Vickie...
Let's look at this rationally for a moment for the public sector jobs, without taking a moral position. NYC is your employer. Your employment is either at will based on following rules directly, or that your union consented to.
This rule was not a violation of any Civil Rights protected status designation.
What standing do you have, whether this was "morally" right or wrong, to sue for damages? You disagreed with the terms of your employment, and you were let go.
As far as the private sector employees, that's another issue.
"What standing do you have, whether this was "morally" right or wrong, to sue for damages? You disagreed with the terms of your employment, and you were let go."
There was no vaccine mandate when you were hired, therefore you can't be fired for refusing the vaccine.
Sheeple need to get out of their bubbles and listen to opposing views.
Why is the "Common Sense Caucus" comprised of so many right wing corporate fascists?
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