Workers Fired For Refusing COVID Vaccine Can Now Reapply For LA City Jobs

LOS ANGELES, CA — City employees are no longer required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 following a vote by the City Council on Tuesday.

The policy change is retroactive to June 2 and came from a recommendation from the city's Executive Employee Relations Committee. The new law also provides a pathway back to employment for city workers who had been terminated for not abiding by the vaccine requirement, as well was others who may have left voluntarily.

There were 86 workers who were fired for non-compliance with the policy. Many others left, according to city Administrative Officer Matt Szabo, but the city does not have an accurate number for that group because workers are not required to disclose their reason for leaving.

Workers who quit or were terminated due to the policy will be allowed to reapply for their position, but there's no guarantee they'll be rehired. The hiring process will follow usual procedures, according to city officials.

The ordinance was approved unanimously by the council, with council members Curren Price and Katy Yaroslavsky absent during the vote.

The rule change comes a year after the City Council lifted the city's declaration of emergency related to the pandemic.

City News Service contributed to this report.