Emergency workers protest against vaccine mandate in New York
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Most of the workers have less than a week to get their COVID-19 vaccines or go on unpaid leave
New York City municipal employees marched across the Brooklyn Bridge against the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The demonstrators included city workers with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the Sanitation Department of New York (SDNY) and the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Most of the workers have less than a week to get their COVID-19 vaccines or go on unpaid leave. The protests turned violent when some demonstrators tried to break into the arena as they clashed with security and police.
Protests along the #WestSideHighway this morning as @sunrisemvmtnyc @ExtinctionR @FFF_NYC_ & others block the #NYC streets to draw attention to Biden's failure to pass sufficient climate legislation#NoClimateNoDeal pic.twitter.com/mevsiq846h pic.twitter.com/cUVNtyTuse
— Amini Fonua (@AminiFonua) October 25, 2021
NYC workers (fire, police, teachers) march in protest. Which city is next?? pic.twitter.com/o2zsiGjNnm
— Chris Hill (@leftychill) October 25, 2021
This comes in as last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that regular COVID-19 testing would no longer be an option instead of vaccinations. he further said that the city employees, including first responders, would have until October 29 to get at least one dose of the vaccine.
"It's time now. If you don't want to get vaccinated, you'll be put on unpaid leave. Well, the vast majority of human beings go to work to get paid. And also, I think for a lot of our first responders, there's a calling. They believe in the work, they care about the work. Those two factors I think are going to cause the vast majority to get vaccinated," Mayor de Blasio said.
He also offered a $500 incentive for city workers to get vaccinated. As a result of this, several unions are now demanding back pay for workers who already got vaccinated without a bonus.
The PBA has filed a lawsuit in Staten Island state Supreme Court seeking to overturn the vaccine mandate.
PBA President Pat Lynch said they are looking forward to filing a request for a temporary restraining order asking the court to bar the city and the NYPD from implementing the mandate, reports AP.