As most of you may know by now your Union, LiUNA Local 1001 along with a host of other Unions have been diligently fighting for you to retain the testing option component of the City of Chicago COVID Policy that went into effect on October 15, 2021.
After all of us, except Police, were denied a Temporary Restraining Order by the Court we proceeded to present our case, along with the other Unions, to arbitration.
This afternoon the Arbitrator for those cases rendered his decision.
In that decision he ruled that those who are still unvaccinated must have their first shot no later than December 31, 2021. That in essence gives you the option of which brand or COVID Vaccine you may choose. You must then receive your second shot no later than January 31, 2022. If you follow these timelines you will be considered in compliance with the City policy and will NOT be placed in unpaid status.
If you have submitted a exemption request by December 8, 2021 and have not received a response from the City by December 31, 2021 you will be excused until you receive your result, if you are denied the exemption after December 31, 2021 you will be given six weeks from the date of denial to comply with the vaccination requirements.
All other City Policy guidelines remain in effect, which means if you cannot show proof of at least your first shot by December 31, 2021 you may be placed in non-pay status until you come into full compliance, which is 14 days after your last shot.
This is not the outcome we were hoping for, unfortunately the Arbitrator ruled that the City has the right to implement their COVID Policy, for the most part, and that they did not violate any of the Collective Bargaining Agreements by doing so.
We understand that some of you will be facing a very difficult decision in the next several days and we will respect your decision and only wish it could have been an easier one for all.