New York, NY – District Council 37 members working for the Department of Education must now provide proof that they’ve been at least partially vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to keep their jobs. According to a new agreement announced this week between the union and the DOE, members who fail to provide proof of vaccination will be forced to resign or take a leave of absence.
Unvaccinated members working for the DOE have from now until October 29, to get vaccinated. Employees who choose instead to resign will remain eligible for health benefits through September 5, 2022, unless they have health insurance available from another source.
They can also apply for a medical or religious exemption.
Ninety-three-percent of DC 37’s almost 20,000 DOE workers have already provided proof of at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. That’s up significantly from 68% from the beginning of September.
“This fight has always been about the right of individuals to make their own medical decisions without fear of retribution in the workplace,” District Council 37, Executive Director Henry Garrido said in a statement. “Very few of our members remain unvaccinated, but for those who do, we do not believe their jobs should be on the line. This deal strikes the balance between public safety and fairness.”
