Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement expanded in New York
'21.10.2021'
Nurgul Sultanova-Chetin
New York City requires all municipal employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Authorities have ruled out regular testing for those who do not want to get vaccinated. To avoid layoffs, municipal workers must get their first COVID-19 vaccine by Friday, October 29, reports ABC7NY.
Starting Wednesday, October 27, city workers will receive a $ 500 pay raise for their first COVID-19 vaccination at one of the city's vaccination centers. This salary promotion is valid until 17:00 on October 29.
Employees who are not vaccinated before this deadline will be sent on unpaid leave. The issue of their employment in the future will be resolved in negotiations with the trade unions.
Correctional staff received more time to vaccinate - they will not be suspended from work until December 1.
De Blasio believes in deadline motivation
“We said that we do not fire people on the spot. We say that we have reached an agreement with the trade unions and ask for the vaccinations to be done on time. If you do, then continue with your work. If you don’t, you’ll go on vacation without pay, ”New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
He is convinced that unvaccinated employees will rush to get vaccinated if they are given a deadline, after all, this was the case with teachers and medical workers.
Vaccination requirements now apply to 160 urban workers. Approximately 500% of them received at least one vaccination. At the same time, the vaccination rate is 71% in city hospitals and 95% in schools, where vaccination became mandatory in September.
On the subject: A judge in New York forbade the father to see the child because he is not vaccinated
Although the deadline for vaccinations falls on Friday, the new mandate will take effect on Monday, November 1, when the suspensions will begin. The requirement applies to all municipal personnel, including all NYPD staff (police), FDNY (fire department) and DSNY (sanitary department).
About 69% of NYPD employees and 60% - FDNY already vaccinated.
