Unionized City of Chicago employees fired or disciplined for violating COVID-19 vaccination requirements must be reinstated and repaid for any loss of wages or benefits, a state hearing officer has ruled.
The decision in a case before the Illinois Labor Relations Board applies to city workers represented by trade unions or by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The unions banded together to challenge regulations Mayor Lori Lightfoot imposed starting in 2021.
The ruling is a broad rebuke of Lightfoot’s get-tough policies on city workers who resisted vaccine mandates, but it’s not known how many employees were penalized. One source said a few dozen employees may be directly affected by the decision.Sign up for NBC Chicago newsletters. “We think it’s a strong decision and favorable for worker rights generally,” said Anders Lindall, a spokesman for AFSCME. “At issue in this case is whether an employer has an obligation to bargain over significant changes to terms and conditions of employment.”
The mayor’s office said the ruling “was an erroneous decision that does not follow the law, facts nor importantly the science. We are currently reviewing the ruling and evaluating next steps.” The office would not discuss the case beyond its statement.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
City told to reinstate employees fired over COVID-19 vaccination requirementChicago must reinstate city employees who were fired for refusing to comply with Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and rescind the requirement, a state administrative law judge has ruled.
Read more »
City of Chicago went too far in worker crackdown over COVID vaccines, judge rulesUnionized City of Chicago employees fired or disciplined for violating COVID-19 vaccination requirements must be reinstated and repaid for any loss of wages or benefits, a state hearing officer has ruled.
Read more »
PPP fraud probe results in 6 Chicago Park District employees resigning, 5 facing disciplineAdd the Chicago Park District to the list of government agencies with employees accused of defrauding federal COVID-19 relief programs.
Read more »
Business owner flees Chicago crime chaos: 'Employees are being held up'Rabine Group founder Gary Rabine explains why he is leaving Chicago and shreds city leadership for not responding to the crime wave on 'America Reports.'
Read more »
Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson on Chicago weekend chaos: 'We don't condone that behavior'Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson spoke about the importance of Chicago and Springfield working together, but he also spoke out about the weekend violence in Chicago for the first time.
Read more »