Hamilton transit union to challenge city’s vaccine mandate

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A heated battle continues to flare in Hamilton after metropolis council voted to maintain a COVID-19 vaccine mandate that also faces a authorized problem and sparked heated debate.

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Council was voting on a employees report recommending the mandate be dropped.

The tie vote defeated that proposal.

“The coverage continues to be in place,” stated Mayor Fred Eisenberger within the moments after the vote.

The town re-iterated what meaning for workers who don’t abide by the vaccine mandate.

“People who fail to offer proof of their full vaccine standing as of Might 31, their employment shall be terminated on June 1,” town’s human assets director, Laura Fontana, advised councillors in the course of the assembly Wednesday.

Six councillors voted in favour of dropping the mandate.

One in all them pointed to recommendation and motion from Ontario’s chief medical officer of well being, Dr. Kieran Moore, who really useful mandates be dropped provincially.

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“The coverage is not related,” councillor Esther Pauls advised the assembly. “We as metropolis council have adopted the province for 2 years and a half. And now we are saying ‘let’s cease following their recommendation.’ When will this vaccination coverage cease?”

An area transit union is vowing to proceed its labour relations problem of the rule.

Amalgamated Transit Union Native 107 stated it’ll push forward with pressing arbitration.

It represents some 800 employees.

“This determination by metropolis council might value native taxpayers upwards of $500,000.00 for pointless litigation,” ATU Native 107 president Eric Tuck stated in an announcement.

“To come back to this conclusion now’s disrespectful and fully unfair to all Frontline Metropolis and Transit Employees who proceed to work and serve this group each day.”

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Hamilton’s medical officer of well being, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, has additionally supported the advice to drop the mandate.

The transit union stated town ought to comply with the lead of different native establishments equivalent to Hamilton Police Companies, Mohawk Collage and McMaster College.

“Science has confirmed vaccinations have completed little to cease the unfold, or to maintain others secure,” stated Tuck in an announcement.

The town is being urged to make use of different public well being means past vaccine mandates — equivalent to implementing necessary masks and bodily distancing on transit.

“It’s irresponsible for this metropolis council to solid a vote to terminate hard-working staff, who’ve served on the entrance traces for the final two years throughout COVID-19,” Tuck stated.