12 Aldermen Demand Halt To City Hall's Employee Vaccine Mandate

CHICAGO — A dozen aldermen want Mayor Lori Lightfoot to delay punishing city employees who do not meeting the requirements of City Hall's vaccine mandates, which require all workers to receive at least their first dose.

The aldermen argue that the vaccine mandate that leaves police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other city workers in jeopardy of being disciplined or fired for non-compliance presents a "clear and present danger to the safety, security and services to residents we represent," the letter states.

The group cited the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention guidance in arguing that the city mandate doesn't take into consideration that some employees who have contracted coronavirus have natural immunity to the disease.

"We demand the city to issue in writing that no city employee will be disciplined and/or terminated until a comprehensive plan has been presented that incorporates the science of natural immunity and an open and fair exemption process to protect the health and believe of our workers," according to the letter signed by Alds. Raymond Lopez, James Gardiner, Matthew O'Shea, Derrick Curtis, Silvana Tabares, Felix Cardona, Edward Burke, Samantha Nugeni, Anthony Napolitano, Nicholas Sposato, Marty Quinn and Anthony Beale.

Friday afternoon, a City Hall spokesman said discipline, including termination, for scofflaw employees will continue as planned.

“Employees who fail to comply with the City's vaccination policy will be placed in a non-disciplinary, no pay status until they come into compliance with the policy. All City employees, including Chicago Police Officers, who fail to comply may also face disciplinary action, up to and including termination, These decisions will be addressed at an individual and department level, and are being undertaken in a manner that will not impact public safety or the continuity of everyday government operations. Union-covered and career service employees are entitled to appeal a termination. For some of those employees, the hearing is with the Human Resources Board, for others it will take place with an arbitrator. At-will employees can be terminated at will," the spokesman said in an emailed statement.

The group of aldermen said in their letter that they are prepared to call a special City Council meeting to debate the issue.