NYPD Union Sues City over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

The New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) largest union — the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) — filed a lawsuit against New York City Monday as part of an effort to block Mayor Bill de Blasio’s (D) coronavirus vaccine mandate.

The New York Daily News reports:

The lawsuit, filed in Staten Island Supreme Court by the Police Benevolent Association, argued that the NYPD’s “vax or test” program, which requires unvaccinated officers to get tested weekly, was enough to protect against the spread COVID-19. De Blasio scrapped that plan last week in favor of a mandate that applies to all 160,000 municipal workers.

“The city has provided no explanation, much less a rational one, for the need to violate the autonomy and privacy of NYPD police officers in such a severe manner, on the threat of termination,” said lawyers for PBA.

“We have fought to make the vaccine available to every member who chooses it, while also protecting their right to make that personal medical decision in consultation with their own doctor,” PBA President Patrick Lynch stated.- READ MORE