Lightfoot vaccine deadline could trigger city worker firings

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pledged unvaccinated city employees will soon be placed on “no-pay status” and face potential termination for failing to comply with her COVID-19 ultimatum. City lists 550 firefighters as unvaccinated.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s COVID-19 vaccination deadline for city workers passed Jan. 31, maybe creating another city-union showdown as unvaccinated public employees face suspension without pay or even termination.

The city reported roughly 84% of public employees were fully vaccinated by the deadline, but listed 12% of the fire department as unvaccinated. Leaders pledged to follow through on penalizing workers who remain unvaccinated with “no-pay status.”

Police are not included. A separate ruling on the arbitration between Lightfoot and the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police over the vaccine mandate deadline is expected soon. There are 2,967 police employees listed as unvaccinated, or about one in four.

The city did not indicate when the suspensions for other city departments would begin. It said in a statement Feb. 2 the city is “addressing those employees who are not in compliance at an individual and department level.”

The passing of the deadline could carry serious consequences for the Chicago Fire Department. More than 550 firefighters and paramedics were reported as unvaccinated, according to city records.

Firefighters Union Local 2 President Jim Tracy said the real number is lower than the city reports. Tracy said many members had gotten vaccinated and simply chose not to tell the city, others are out on disability and will not return for some time.

He said only “a couple, like two or three” unvaccinated firefighters were forced to get inoculated before the deadline to avoid no-pay status and potentially losing benefits. Others applied for religious or medical exemptions, but many will still face Lightfoot’s ultimatum in the coming days.

“They’re making the best of a rotten situation,” Tracy told the Chicago Tribune. “They’re still furious. I’m furious. They should never be in a situation where they’re being forced to get vaccinated. When you’ve got guys with 15, 17, 18 years on the job, though, they stand to lose their pensions if they don’t comply.”

The city reported eight firefighters were on no-pay status Feb. 2.

Lightfoot announced her vaccine deadline in August, mandating all city employees get the shot before Dec. 31, 2021. After successful legal pushback from a coalition of 23 Chicago labor unions, the city and union leaders brought in an arbitrator to settle the dispute.

The arbitrator ruled Dec. 15 city workers, excluding Chicago police, would need to get a first shot by Dec. 31 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 31 or surrender pay until they comply.

“It’s (Lightfoot’s) ballgame, it’s her rules,” Tracy said. “If you don’t play by her rules, you can’t be on the team.”