CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio) - A few Metra employees spoke up at Wednesday’s board meeting in support of those who’ve been put on unpaid leave for not getting COVID shots.
Metra says all its employees were required to have been vaccinated against COVID as of early this year and that employees who are not vaccinated started being put on unpaid leave last week.
During the meeting, employee Jeffrey Downing begged for some accommodation.
“I understand Metra punishing those who failed to do anything but how can you punish someone with a medical exemption. I am here on my knees begging you to reverse this punishment for those who complied with the letter we received,” said Downing.
“Now we’re losing our jobs, our health benefits and our dignity when we need it most. I’m begging you. I’m asking for your compassion,” Downing added.
Metra board member Ken Koehler says he hopes Metra can do something for people like Jeffrey Downing.
“These are great people. They’re people who have worked hard and, like they said, they were heroes,” Koehler said.
Metra spokesman Michael Gillis says Metra accommodated religious and medical exemptions to the extent possible and that there are a small number of workers whose positions do not permit any other kind of accommodation. Gillis would not say how many people have been put on unpaid leave last week for not having COVID shots, only that it was a “small number.”
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