REMARKS
Council Member Ariola clarifies Resolution 5 and calls for fair treatment of city workers regarding COVID-19 vaccination policies
0:51:21
·
113 sec
Council Member Joann Ariola addresses the City Council to clarify the intent of Resolution 5 and its related state legislation (A9196). She explains that the resolution aims to address inequities in how city workers are being treated regarding COVID-19 vaccination policies and their return to work.
- Ariola highlights that some unvaccinated workers were never removed from their jobs or returned without signing waivers, while others are required to sign away their rights to return.
- The legislation supported by Resolution 5 would allow all workers to return to work equally, without requiring them to sign away their rights.
- Ariola emphasizes that this is not an anti-vaccination bill and does not provide back pay, but aims to ensure fair treatment for all city workers.
Joann Ariola
0:51:21
M conference, and I've had conversation the conference, and I've had conversation with some of you individually today.
0:51:31
I'd like to take a moment to clarify the intent and content of the bill in the legislature that the rezo 5 supports.
0:51:39
As all of you know, I've been fighting for the city workers who have been unable to return to work due to inequitable practices of the New York City law department.
0:51:47
Many city workers who did not take the COVID 19 vaccination were never removed from their jobs even without reasonable accommodation requests, and others returned when the mandates were lifted without signing any waiver of their civil service rights.
0:52:02
There is a remaining group of workers that are not being allowed to back to work without signing away their rights.
0:52:08
There is no protocol or explanation as to why some were able to return without it and some were not.
0:52:14
This is an unfair practice and one that we as representatives of this city should not be allowing to continue.
0:52:22
Reso 5 supports legislation in Albany a 9196 that would remove this inequity, it would simply allow everyone to return to work in the same manner that others have.
0:52:33
It is not an anti vaccination bill nor is it a bill that is giving the workers any back pay for days they were not working.
0:52:41
It would just end the unfair practices of the law department and make sure that all workers are being treated equally.
0:52:48
I ask you to carefully look over both pieces of legislation and reach out to me if you have any questions.
0:52:53
Please help me right the wrong that thousands of workers are still facing.
0:52:58
Do it for firefighter Rashad Taylor, firefighter Sekou Abdul, paramedic Corinne Rosato, and all of the first first responders and city workers that just want to return to work.
0:53:09
Many of whom have testified before this body sharing their hardships.
0:53:13
Thank you for the time.
