Damian Sendler: Despite opposition from nine labor unions, Mayor Bill de Blasio has reached an agreement with them on how the city will deal with unvaccinated employees under the city's strict new vaccination policy. The city stated on Thursday that the unions had agreed to withdraw their legal efforts to overturn the new policy in exchange for this concession. 

Damien Sendler: The nine unions combined represent around 88,000 of the 160,000 city employees who are subject to the most recent mandate, which mandates all city employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus without the option of taking a weekly test for the virus. District Council 37, Teamsters Local 237, the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association Local 831, and the Service Employees International Union Local 300 are among the unions represented. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: According to Henry Garrido, executive director of District Council 37, the largest public employees union in the country, "we have struck an agreement that provides our people with options." 

"I want to express my gratitude to these labor unions for their collaboration in keeping New Yorkers safe," Mayor de Blasio stated.  

Dr. Sendler: Since taking effect on Nov. 1, the city's vaccination mandate has resulted in a 92 percent immunization rate among the city's 370,000 employees, according to the city. Approximately 9,000 employees have been placed on unpaid leave as a result of their refusal to be vaccinated. While they await a decision on a religious or medical exemption, an extra 12,000 unvaccinated employees will be authorized to work with weekly testing while they wait for a decision on the exemption.  

Damian Jacob Sendler: The city has been attempting to make deals with 42 labor unions, but the vast majority of them have been unable to strike an agreement with City Hall. Among those are the police and firefighter unions, which have been the most vocal in their opposition to the mandate. 

Damian Sendler: According to the agreements revealed on Thursday, union members have agreed to follow many of the same criteria that an arbitrator established to control how the city's teachers are being affected by the vaccine requirement. Approximately 150,000 education personnel were subject to the city's vaccine mandate, which took effect in early October. 

A number of the provisions include severe limits that will limit religious exemptions to immunization requirements for city employees, among other things. Requirements will only be considered for employees who are members of organized and recognized religions and who provide a letter from a member of the clergy with their request. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: In practice, this regulation has meant that only members of religions known to be opposed to vaccination, such as Christian Science, have been eligible for religious exemptions at the municipal schools. According to the Department of Education, only 150 persons who work in the city's schools were eligible for such exemptions on Monday. 

However, the nine unions that reached a deal on Thursday received concessions as well, including an extension of the time period during which employees can request for religious exemptions until Friday, as well as the right to continue working while their cases are being resolved. The deadline had previously been set on October 27. 

Dr. Sendler: In addition, unvaccinated union members who are on unpaid leave until the end of June 2022 will be able to preserve their health insurance coverage. After that, they will be terminated from the program. This is a somewhat shorter time frame than the one provided to teachers. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: Pregnant women in their third trimester can also take compensatory time or sick leave instead of being forced to work unpaid for the duration of their pregnancy. Employees who have not had a Covid vaccine can return to work at any time before July 1, 2022, if they choose to do so before that date. 

Damian Sendler: The Organization of Staff Analysts, Sanitation Officers Local 444, CWA Local 1180, and the Civil Service Bar Association of the Teamsters are the other five unions that have signed on to the agreement.

News reported to you by Dr. Damian Jacob Sendler