Correction Officers Union Sues City Over Vaccine Mandate

NEW YORK CITY — Correction officers are suing to block the city's coronavirus vaccine mandate and challenge a new policy increasing shifts on Rikers Island to 12 hours, court records show.

The Correction Officers Benevolent Association filed suit Wednesday in Manhattan's civil court decrying city policy they say will only exacerbate an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Queens jail complex, records show.

"In no way is the twelve-hour tours and five appearances per week a sustainable solution to the staffing crisis," the lawsuit states.

"Without the arbitrary, capricious, and ill-timed Vaccine Mandate, it would not even be a necessary short-term measure."

A Law Department spokesperson expressed confidence that the vaccination mandate would survive a court challenge.

"The City is grateful for every officer who has gotten vaccinated," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We’re confident the mandate and the 12 hour shifts will be upheld by the court."

Department of Correction workers were given until Nov. 30 to receive the first vaccine dose or face suspension without pay but more than 700 correction officers of had failed to get the shot as of Dec. 1.

Staffing shortages remain a serious concern on Rikers Island as higher-than-usual absenteeism that saw about 80 posts unmanned on any given day in October, according to a federal monitor report released this week.

Union president Benny Boscio Jr. placed the blame on Mayor Bill de Blasio's shoulders, arguing the city should hire more officers instead of increasing work week requirements to 60 hours.

"This practice is treating us like slave labor and it will only result in Officers getting sick or injured," Boscio said in a statement.

"We will take this fight against the mandate and this punitive policy of 12-hour tours as far as we can.”

Read More:

• Dispatch From Deadly Rikers Island: "It Looks Like A Slave Ship In There."
• 'Band-Aid' Rikers Fix Lets City's Courts 'Crumble': Sources
• Federal Hearing Focused On Conditions At Rikers Island