The following report is Silive.com:
New York City’s private sector coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate took effect Monday, but one online giant is delaying its compliance.
According to Amazon spokesman Richard Rocha, more than 7,000 of its New York City employees — nearly a third of the local workforce — have yet to get their first dose of the vaccine or haven’t shared their vaccine status. Either way, they’ll have until Jan. 4 to do so.
Employees tell us the rapid implementation of this mandate has created scheduling challenges for vaccine appointments.
Rather than block over 7,000 New York employees from their jobs, we are holding on-site vaccine clinics in multiple New York-area sites this week and next, and have set January 4 as the date only vaccinated employees or employees with an accommodation on file will be allowed onsite.
Rocha said
That Jan. 4 date coincides with a federal mandate that President Biden announced in November requiring employers to ensure their workers have been fully vaccinated or check for weekly negative tests.
Additionally, Rocha said the company has adjusted its attendance policy to “encourage employees to take the time they need to get vaccinated,” but New York law already requires employers to grant four hours of paid time off per injection for each employee.
City Hall spokesman Mitch Schwartz said the city’s mandate, as announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier this month, applies to employers both large and small.
The December 27th deadline applies to businesses of all sizes, and vaccines are widely available across Staten Island. As the mayor has said for weeks, we’re working collaboratively with the private sector to give every business the resources it needs to comply with this policy.
Our inspectors are ready to perform that work, and we’ll do everything we can to keep employees safe and fight back COVID-19.
Schwartz said.
Amazon has consistently encouraged its employees across the nation to get vaccines against the virus, but has fallen short of instituting a universal mandate across its facilities. It remains one of Staten Island’s largest employers to not institute its own mandate.
Getting vaccinated is the most important thing our employees can do to protect themselves and their communities from COVID-19, which is why since vaccines first became available we’ve offered incentives, on-site clinics, and paid time off for our team to get vaccinated.
Rocha said
Amazon has come under increased scrutiny locally over its approach to health and safety at the JFK8 fulfillment center on Gulf Avenue in Bloomfield.
New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a motion in late November seeking an offer of interim reinstatement to Christian Smalls, and for the court to appoint a monitor that would oversee the implementation of health and safety measures.
According to James’ court filing, Amazon fired Smalls, who has been trying to organize JFK8 employees into an independent “Amazon Labor Union,” in March 2020 after he complained about COVID safety practices at the facility. Smalls and the union did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Amazon and its leadership banked billions of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the crisis rages on, the health and concerns of the workers continue to be ignored.
Amazon must guarantee a work environment that promotes safety, transparency, and respect for its hardworking employees, not one that further endangers them.
James said
Amazon has blamed Smalls’ termination on his violation of quarantine orders during a protest outside the JFK8 center.
Evidence that James presented to the court included internal chat messages between two Amazon HR employees expressing concerns about the firing being perceived as retaliatory, because the company had not communicated to Smalls that the quarantine order included the parking lot where the protest took place.
If James’ motion is successful, Amazon would be required to improve its contact tracing protocols, adopt policies for cleaning and disinfection after COVID-infected people are present in a facility, and adjust its productivity policies to allow for that cleaning.
It’s disappointing that the Attorney General is seeking to politicize the pandemic by asking for ‘emergency’ relief now despite having filed this lawsuit nine months ago.
We’re working hard every day for our team, and the facts are that we moved fast from the onset of the pandemic, listened to and learned from the experts, and have taken a comprehensive approach to COVID-19 safety — incurring more than $15B in costs to support our employees and customers.
Amazon spokeswoman Barbara Agrait said in an email earlier this month.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
At first I thought it was nice to hear that a lot of people are resisting the mandate, after taking a glance at the headlines; but based off how this story is written, it sounds like that the employees, by and large, are just following in lockstep. Such a shame.
If more people would resist with these kinds of numbers, and have no intention to take the death shot, then these companies and governments will have to back off.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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This is interesting. I believe that the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) wanted a vaccine mandate if they are voted in. I know that I would be fired before the union election is held. If I was to vote, I would vote no to unionization. Hopefully, my fellow coworkers would wake up, but unfortunately most took the vaccine, including the area managers & their process assistants.