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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston city employees have another week and some change to be in compliance with Mayor Michelle Wu's COVID-19 vaccine mandate before disciplinary action is taken.
The deadline for city workers to get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was Saturday, but after Mayor Wu's announcement, disciplinary action against unvaccinated workers will not take effect until January 24. Mayor Wu issued a statement on the change, saying that an overwhelming majority of City employees have already been vaccinated and are in compliance with the incoming policy.
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"Starting on January 24, any staff still without proof of vaccination will begin to be placed on unpaid administrative leave, pending further action," Wu said in a statement to WBZ-TV.
Members of Boston First Responders United said in a statement that while the change gives workers one more paycheck, they consider the move arbitrary as it shows the lack of emergent factors supporting the implementation of the vaccine mandate. BFRU also said that the policy requiring vaccine passports for patrons at places such as restaurants, effective Saturday, was ineffective because those using the bathroom were not required to prove vaccination for entry.
Mayor Wu said that the City's vaccine mandate has drawn many protests to her own home.
"The protests outside my house are making me sure everyday that we're doing the right thing," Wu said on Twitter.
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