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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Suffolk Superior Court judge has denied a request by the Massachusetts State Police Union to delay Governor Charlie Baker's vaccine mandate for state workers.
The mandate goes into effect on October 17, which means state workers must get vaccinated, or they could potentially lose their job.
The State Police Association of Massachusetts had sued the Baker Administration to delay the mandate. The union had hoped to offer an alternative for state police that didn't want to get vaccinated.
Their alternative plan would have allowed troopers to wear a mask and submit to weekly Covid-19 testing.
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However, Judge Jackie Cowin sided with Governor Baker, on Thursday, in her ruling. She said the union does have the right to bargain the terms of their employment.
She added, their interests are outweighed by the interests of the Commonwealth as a whole and they need to be able to keep themselves and others safe while on the job.
The attorney representing the union had said earlier this week that roughly 20 percent of state police employees are unvaccinated.
Michael Cherven, the president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts said in a statement they were disappointed with the results of the judge's ruling but respect her decision.
The statement said that dozens of state troopers submitted their resignations.
Governor Baker's vaccine mandate applies to all state workers.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) Reports:
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