File #: Res 0005-2024    Version: Name: Calling on the NYS Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.7466-A, and a companion bill, to reinstate NYC employees who were terminated due to non-compliance with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.
Type: Resolution Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Civil Service and Labor
On agenda: 2/8/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.7466-A, and a companion bill, to reinstate New York City employees who were terminated due to non-compliance with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.
Sponsors: Joseph C. Borelli, Joann Ariola , Kalman Yeger , Robert F. Holden, Susan Zhuang, Lynn C. Schulman, Nantasha M. Williams, Vickie Paladino, David M. Carr, Kristy Marmorato, Inna Vernikov
Council Member Sponsors: 11
Attachments: 1. Res. No. 5, 2. February 8, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 2-8-24, 4. Proposed Res. No. 5-A - 3/13/24

Res. No. 5-A

 

Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.7466-A, and a companion bill, to reinstate New York City employees who were terminated due to non-compliance with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

 

By Council Members Borelli, Ariola, Yeger, Holden, Zhuang, Schulman, Williams, Paladino, Carr, Marmorato and Vernikov

 

Whereas, On October 20, 2021, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination mandate for all New York City (City) employees, supported by an Order of the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH); and

Whereas, Failure by City employees to comply with this Order resulted in their termination; and

Whereas, On February 11, 2022, the City terminated approximately 1,780 City employees due to non-compliance with the COVID-19 vaccination order at a time when New Yorkers were deeply dependent on City services; and

Whereas, These hardworking employees, who were praised for keeping the City running during the pandemic, were unceremoniously terminated, which negatively impacted them and the families for whom they provided; and

Whereas, Mayor Eric Adams announced that beginning February 10, 2023, the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for current and prospective City workers would be optional; and

Whereas, However, these public servants were not automatically permitted to return to their jobs; and

Whereas, Former employees were forced to reapply to their positions and were only rehired by their former agencies if they agreed to waive claims to backpay and other entitlements; and

Whereas, Many employees did not return to work because they refused to sign the waiver; and

Whereas, S.7466-A, sponsored by New York State Senator Adam Lanza, would automatically reinstate City employees who were dismissed for failure to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement; and

Whereas, If adopted, S.7466-A would require reinstatement of these former employees to their former positions, former titles, and at the same salary and benefits, with retention of seniority and service time accrued; and

Whereas, S.7466-A would also exempt any employee seeking reinstatement from signing a waiver that denies them backpay; and

Whereas, S.7466-A seeks to provide fairness to terminated workers,  allowing them to return to  their former jobs serving our City; now, therefore be it

Resolved, that the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.7466-A, and a companion bill, to reinstate New York City employees who were terminated due to non-compliance with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

 

Session 12

KK

LS 7964,15837

4/7/22

 

Session 13

EA

LS 7964,15837

3/12/24