Lodge 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police is the exclusive collective bargaining representative of all sworn personnel below the rank of sergeant employed by the Chicago Police Department. The Policemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Illinois represents sergeants and lieutenants in different bargaining units. On August 25, 2021, the City announced its intention to…
The City of Carbondale, Illinois is party to a collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council. Shane Harris, a dispatcher, is in the FOP’s bargaining unit. The City adopted a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy effective September 27, 2021. The Policy states, in part, “The City of Carbondale requires all employees to be…
The sworn members of the Chicago Police Department who are not exempt are represented by four unions. The Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge No. 7 represents officers below the rank of Sergeant. The Policemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association of Illinois has three Units: Unit 156A represents the Sergeants, Unit 156B represents the Lieutenants, and…
The Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association filed an unfair practice charge against the Township of Maplewood, New Jersey, alleging that the City failed to bargain over the implementation of a policy mandating COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of employment, dispensing with a testing option. Several Association members submitted requests for exemptions based on their religious beliefs.…
A group of 13 Los Angeles Police Department employees sued the City in federal court, contending the City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate violated their federal and state civil rights. The employees sought a preliminary injunction holding the mandate in abeyance pending completion of the litigation. The City responded by filing a motion to dismiss the entire lawsuit. A federal court trial judge agreed with…
The State Police Association of Massachusetts is the exclusive bargaining unit for the approximately 1,800 members of the Department of State Police. On August 19, 2021, Massachusetts’ governor issued an executive order requiring that all employees of the executive branch prove that they had received full COVID-19 vaccination by October 17, 2021 and mandating full…
Many public employers are exploring or have implemented requirements that public safety employees provide proof of vaccination and, absent such proof, submit to periodic COVID-19 testing. Some employers are simply mandating that all employees be vaccinated. The result has been a barrage of questions from employees as to the legality of these types of orders.…
On April 1, 2021, Houston Methodist Hospital announced a policy requiring all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by June 7, 2021. Jennifer Bridges and 116 fellow employees sued, raising a series of claims in attempting to overturn the mandatory vaccination rule. Federal Court Judge Lynn Hughes rejected the lawsuit. The employees focused on a…
The general thinking has been that public safety employers have the right to impose mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19 assuming: (1) that they discharge any obligation to collectively bargain over such a program; and (2) make reasonable accommodations for employees objecting to vaccination on religious or disability grounds. A lawsuit filed several weeks ago challenges those…
