REMARKS
Council Member Ariola Discusses Rehiring Vaccine-Noncompliant Municipal Workers
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Council Member Ariola introduces Resolution 5, advocating for the rehiring of municipal workers dismissed due to COVID-19 vaccine noncompliance without them having to forfeit their civil rights or rights for back pay. She emphasizes the unjust treatment of these individuals, who had deep personal reasons for declining the vaccine, including religious and health concerns. Calling for an end to this contentious issue, Ariola acknowledges the efforts of groups such as Teachers for Choice and thanks her team for their commitment to reinstating these workers.
Speaker 9
0:46:56
Thank you.
0:46:57
I'm extremely proud to introduce Resolution 5 today.
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Resolution 5 calls upon the city of New York to rehire all municipal workers who were unjustly removed from their posts due to COVID 19 vaccine noncompliance without requiring them to first sign a waiver forfeiting their civil rights or their rights for back pay.
0:47:19
For 2 long years, hundreds of New Yorkers have been denied the ability to work due to their strong personal convictions regarding the COVID 19 vaccine.
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Some had religious motivations, others, health related ones, but all had deep personal reasons for declining to take that vaccine.
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It is now time that these men and women return to the jobs they love and we as a city move forward finally ending this long, painful chapter in our history once and for all.
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These men and women who were stripped of their positions, many of whom are here with us today, are all dedicated civil servants with long careers in serving the people of New York City.
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They would like nothing more than to return to their careers and continue their work in the city service the city that they serve, and to collect the back pay that they are rightfully entitled to.
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This is why I'm introducing this resolution so that all of these real life heroes can get back to work, continue to do the jobs they love, and keep on serving the people of this city.
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To the best of their abilities.
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I'd like to thank teachers for choice, braves for choice, cops for freedom, and any other group that has been disenfranchised from getting back to work.
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You inspire us every single day to fight for you.
0:48:39
And I'd also like to thank my staff especially my chief of staff who I call our force of nature, Phyllis Insurillo, for her dedication to helping them get back to work every single day.
0:48:50
Thank you for the time.
Speaker 1
0:48:53
Thank you, council member, council member, Joseph, followed by Jose and then Riley.
