NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York City will require all public school faculty and staff members to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday.
All New York City Department of Education staffers, including custodial and cafeteria staff, will have to get at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose by Sept. 27, de Blasio said at a news briefing Monday morning.
“To ensure the safety of our schools, of our kids, of all the adults in our schools as well, today, New York City Department of Health will be issuing an order requiring all staff in the New York City public schools to be vaccinated,” he said.
“This will require that all staff of every kind — principals, teachers, custodians, food service, you name it — needs to have at least one dose by Sept. 27," he explained. “And we know this is going to help ensure that everyone is safe.”
The city will start working with labor unions “immediately” to implement the mandate “properly and fairly,” the mayor said.
In a statement released shortly after de Blasio's announcement, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said the "first priority" of the labor union — which represents most of the city's public school teachers — "is keeping our kids safe and the schools open."
"The city’s teachers have led the way on this issue, with the great majority already vaccinated," he added. "While the city is asserting its legal authority to establish this mandate, there are many implementation details, including provisions for medical exceptions, that by law must be negotiated with the UFT and other unions, and if necessary, resolved by arbitration."
Unlike other city workers, there is no option for a weekly COVID test in lieu of the vaccine.
The mayor is hinting more mandates could be on the way for other city employees.
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