Over 2,000 NYC firefighters take sick leave as vaccine mandate begins

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• More than 2000 members of the New York City Fire Department didn’t show up to work on Monday, claiming they were sick.
• The unvaccinated firefighters face the start of sanctions as the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate takes effect Monday. 
• Mayor Bill de Blasio’s vaccine mandate impacts more than 160,000 city employees.

More than 2,000 New York City firefighters did not show up to work Monday. They took a medical leave that lines up with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s vaccine mandate deadline for all city workers.

The New York City Fire Department is the largest in the country and employs around 11,000 firefighters, according to NBC News.

NYCFD deputy commissioner Franke Dwyer said the number of firefighters on sick leave was “very unusual.” 

The timing of the medical leave overlaps with Monday’s vaccine mandate deadline. It requires all NY city employees to have proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Those unvaccinated will be put on unpaid leave until they get the vaccine.

Mayor DeBlasio confirmed at a press conference that the FDNY had the lowest vaccination rate of select city agencies, at 77 percent.

The mayor tweeted that the vaccination rate for city employees, firefighters and police officers among them, increased from 86 percent to 91 percent late last week.

According to Reuters, the FDNY reported its vaccination rate among employees rose to 77 percent, up from 64 percent.

Congresswoman Nicole Mallitotakis (NY-R) asked the DeBlasio to immediately rescind his vaccine mandate. Over the weekend, the congresswoman said the mandate had led to the closure of 26 fire department stations across the city. 

“The shortage of potentially thousands of firefighters will undoubtedly result in longer response times, leading to an increased potential for injury or death,” Rep. Mallitotakis said in a statement.  

FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said that firefighters who joined the sickout were neglecting their oaths.

“Irresponsible bogus sick leave by some of our members is creating a danger for New Yorkers and their fellow firefighters,” Nigro said. “They need to return to work or risk the consequences of their actions.” 

Nigro denied reports that some firehouses had been closed due to shortages of firefighters.

DeBlasio’s vaccine mandate impacts around 160,500 NYC workers.

Source: The Hill