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: Laid Over in 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, Linda Lee, Kamillah Hanks, Julie Menin, Farah N. Louis, Vickie Paladino, David M. Carr, Kristy Marmorato, Inna Vernikov
Council Member Sponsors: 15
Attachments: 1. Res. No. 5, 2. February 8, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 2-8-24, 4. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - February 8, 2024, 5. Proposed Res. No. 5-A - 3/13/24, 6. Committee Report 6/24/24, 7. Hearing Testimony 6/24/24, 8. Hearing Transcript 6/24/24

Proposed 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, Lee, Hanks, Menin, Louis, 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