In a Sunday interview with 60 Minutes, President Joe Biden stated that the pandemic was over. In January, Rochelle Walensky, Director of CDC, stated to CNN that vaccines were ineffective in preventing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The CDC acknowledged the protections and benefits that natural immunity provides in the wake of the virus’s infection earlier this year. Workers across America are still losing their jobs because they refuse to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
New York City Department of Education fired an additional 850 teachers who had resisted the mandate to get vaccines. According to the New York Post, this latest round of firings has brought the total number of school employees fired for not complying to 1,950.
The employees have also lost their insurance benefits.
While 850 employees refused to comply with the mandate, 1,300 employees placed on unpaid leave with a benefit agreed to show proof that they had been vaccinated by September 5.
450 people were vaccinated by the deadline, and they are now “returning back to their previous schools or workplaces.” Refusals to present papers were “deemed voluntary resignations.”
Vaccinations for Jobs
On October 4, 2021, the mandate that has put thousands of New Yorkers out of work was first implemented. Bill de Blasio, then-mayor, stated that all objectors (estimated to be about 5% among 148,000 school employees) would be on unpaid leave. The requirement was made to teachers, principals, school safety officers, and food service workers.
De Blasio stated, “Every adult in schools is now vaccinated. That’s going to continue.”
Mayor Eric Adams maintained this mandate, noting recently that “city workers served as front-line personnel during the pandemic. By getting vaccinated, these workers are once more showing their willingness to do the right thing and protect all New Yorkers.”
Adams did not consider it “the right thing”, so those who didn’t do the right thing were not protected, even though they had “served on front lines.”
After the Democrat Governor, tens, of thousands of healthcare workers were also fired after they lost their jobs as firefighters, police officers, or teachers due to personal medical decisions. Kathy Hochul expanded the mandate of her predecessor to include staff from other hospitals.
Timing and legality
While the NYPD may be left with thousands of unvaccinated NYPD officers, it will leave an overburdened force that can only deal with 36% more crime. The loss of thousands upon thousands of educators will also have a negative effect on the city. There is an impending teacher shortage.
According to the New York State United Teachers Union, approximately 180,000 teachers will need to be hired by the state in the next decade. This is especially important after 280,000 teachers left the U.S. during the pandemic.
Jolene DiBrango is the union’s executive vice-president. She stated, “The teacher shortage does not seem to loom.” It’s here. It is currently in full-blown crisis mode.”
The Common-Sense Caucus of the New York City Council put pressure on the mayor and Dr. Ashwin Vaan, the city’s chief health officer, earlier this month to relax restrictions and mandates.
Joe Borelli, a Republican councilman from South Shore, stated that these mandates “no longer have any basis for public health rationale.”
Even though the city removed its indoor venue vaccine mandate, teachers and children who want to take part in extracurricular activities still need to be vaccinated. Borelli called these vestigial mandates, “simply absurd.”
The Supreme Court blocked Biden’s federal vaccine mandate. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, however, refused to stop NYC’s mandate for teachers in Oct 2021. Sotomayor declined to block the mandate again late last month.
A Manhattan judge ruled last week that Officer Alexander Deletto (Brooklyn police officer) could not be fired because he refused to vaccinate. Alexander Deletto sought a religious exemption which the city initially denied.
James Mermigis was Deletto’s attorney and told the Post that these were people who were heroes during COVID, who put their lives at risk to save the city of New York. This is how the mayor treats them. … “It is a disgraceful act.”
