9,000 New York City Workers , Put on Unpaid Leave , as COVID Vaccine Mandate Takes Effect.<br />On November 1, New York's mayor said that approximately <br />9,000 city workers were put on unpaid leave <br />as the COVID-19 vaccine mandate took effect.<br />'The Guardian' reports that Mayor Bill de Blasio <br />added that thousands of firefighters <br />had called out sick in protest of the mandate.<br />Daniel Nigro, New York's fire commissioner, <br />said that while firehouses remained open, , “many units are understaffed.".<br />Daniel Nigro, New York's fire commissioner, <br />said that while firehouses remained open, , “many units are understaffed.".<br />Nigro called on firefighters to stop <br />misusing sick leave and return to work.<br />According to 'The Guardian,' officials <br />have been facing strong resistance among <br />workers holding critical public safety jobs.<br />Those workers include the city's <br />police officers and firefighters.<br />When the mandate took effect, one in four <br />New York firefighters remained unvaccinated.<br />'The Guardian' reports that one in six <br />police personnel, as well as one in six <br />sanitation workers, were also still unvaccinated.<br />The head of New York City's firefighters union, which has fought the vaccine mandate, warned that public safety could be at risk.<br />According to the fire department, it is prepared <br />to reduce the number of fire companies <br />and ambulances in service by 20%.<br />According to the fire department, it is prepared <br />to reduce the number of fire companies <br />and ambulances in service by 20%.<br />We’re here today because of a mandate <br />that was put not only on our members, <br />but also all New York City employees, <br />given nine days to make a life-changing <br />decision on their career or whether <br />or not they’re going to take a vaccine, Andrew Ansbro, Uniformed Firefighters <br />Association president, via the Guardian.<br />We’re here today because of a mandate <br />that was put not only on our members, <br />but also all New York City employees, <br />given nine days to make a life-changing <br />decision on their career or whether <br />or not they’re going to take a vaccine, Andrew Ansbro, Uniformed Firefighters <br />Association president, via the Guardian
