New York City fires 1,430 municipal workers for refusing COVID vaccine

By Rabia Iclal Turan

ISTANBUL (AA) – New York City fired over 1,400 municipal workers who refused to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the mayor’s office announced on Monday.

“Our goal was always to vaccinate, not terminate, and city workers stepped up and met the goal placed before them,” Eric Adams said in a statement.

Among the 1,430 workers who were fired were 914 Education Department employees.

New York City required municipal employees to receive at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by Oct. 29, 2021.

Some 9,000 people who refused to receive the vaccine were on unpaid leave since November.

“City workers served on the front lines during the pandemic, and by getting vaccinated, they are, once again, showing how they are willing to do the right thing to protect themselves and all New Yorkers,” Adams said.

The workers who lost their jobs account for less than 1% of the municipal workforce in the city, according to local media.