Tue Apr 25, 2023 – 3:38 pm EDT
CHICAGO (LifeSiteNews) — A labor relations judge has ruled that Chicago city employees fired for refusing to submit to COVID-19 vaccination should be reinstated with back pay.
WGN reports that a judge with the Illinois Labor Relations Board ruled that in finalizing and implementing the city’s vaccine mandate, outgoing Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot failed to bargain in good faith with public-sector unions, including AFCSME Council 31 and the Coalition of Unionized Public Employees. As a result, it must rehire any employee fired for noncompliance and reimburse their lost pay and benefits with 7% interest.
The city has 30 days to file an appeal before the ruling becomes final. A spokesman for Lightfoot indicated her office is considering doing so and called the ruling an “erroneous decision that does not follow the law, facts or importantly the science.” However, complicating the matter is the impending replacement of Lightfoot with Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson on May 15. Johnson has so far not commented on what his administration will do with the ruling.
“It’s a pretty resounding win,” said Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara, whose group has a
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