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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — On Friday, the City of Boston appealed a court decision that slapped an injunction on the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for City employees.
The original decision had come on February 15, from Justice Sabita Singh of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, who ruled in favor of a lawsuit brought on by three unions representing Boston first responders. Singh concluded that the City employee vaccine mandate had violated the collective bargaining law and Memorandum of Agreements as asserted in the joint motion from the Boston Police Superior Officer Federation, the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society, and Boston Firefighters Local 718.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's office issued an appeal to the decision, which as it stands, prevents union workers from losing their jobs for non-compliance with the vaccine mandate.
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"Courts across the country have repeatedly recognized the rights of state and local governments to require full vaccination of public employees. Our appeal will help ensure the City can protect public health moving forward in line with that precedent as we continue negotiating with our labor partners," a City spokesperson said in a statement to WBZ NewsRadio.
The BPSOF responded to Wu's appeal to the injunction on Friday.
"The Federation is deeply disappointed in Mayor Wu’s decision to appeal Justice Singh’s grant of an injunction. This appeal reflects a disregard for the unions and employees of the City of Boston and a disregard for taxpayers by continuing to use public monies on outside law firms," the BPSOF said.
WBZ's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports.
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