New York fires 1,430 employees for not getting vaccinated against coronavirus

The city of New York fired more than 1,000 workers who failed to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, the mayor’s office reported Monday.

The 1,430 employees who lost their jobs represent less than 1% of the total 370,000 municipal workers, and are far fewer layoffs than believed before the deadline to vaccinate expired on Friday.

In late January, New York authorities notified about 4,000 workers that they must prove they had received at least two doses of the vaccine or lose their jobs.

Three quarters of these workers had been suspended without pay for several months, since they had not met a previous deadline to get vaccinated and be able to continue working.

Mayor Eric Adams’ office reported that hundreds of employees provided proof of their vaccinations or were vaccinated after being notified they would be laid off.

“City employees have been on the front lines during the pandemic, and by getting vaccinated, they are showing, once again, that they are willing to do the right thing to protect themselves and all New Yorkers,” Adams said in a statement. “Our objective was always to vaccinate, not to fire, and the municipal workers stepped forward and fulfilled the objective that was set for them.”

Of the 1,430 employees laid off, about 64% worked for the city’s education department. The United Federation of Teachers, the public school teachers’ union, said last week that some 700 of its members had received notice that they would be fired. The union joined others in suing to block the firings, but on Thursday, a judge ruled in favor of the city.

The federal Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal by a group of employees of the Department of Education.

The 1,430 employees who lost their jobs represent less than 1% of the total 370,000 municipal workers, and are far fewer layoffs than believed before the deadline to vaccinate expired on Friday.

In late January, New York authorities notified about 4,000 workers that they must prove they had received at least two doses of the vaccine or lose their jobs.

Three quarters of these workers had been suspended without pay for several months, since they had not met a previous deadline to get vaccinated and be able to continue working.

Mayor Eric Adams’ office reported that hundreds of employees provided proof of their vaccinations or were vaccinated after being notified they would be laid off.

“City employees have been on the front lines during the pandemic, and by getting vaccinated, they are showing, once again, that they are willing to do the right thing to protect themselves and all New Yorkers,” Adams said in a statement. “Our objective was always to vaccinate, not to fire, and the municipal workers stepped forward and fulfilled the objective that was set for them.”

Of the 1,430 employees laid off, about 64% worked for the city’s education department. The United Federation of Teachers, the public school teachers’ union, said last week that some 700 of its members had received notice that they would be fired. The union joined others in suing to block the firings, but on Thursday, a judge ruled in favor of the city.

The federal Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal by a group of employees of the Department of Education.