Lightfoot’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate upheld for Chicago firefighters, city workers

The ruling upholding Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s vaccination mandate for city workers, except police, sets a precedent ahead of arbitration between the city and more than 20 Chicago labor unions.

An arbitrator ruled Dec. 15 that Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for all city workers does not breach union collective bargaining powers protected by the Illinois Constitution, as alleged by several Chicago labor unions opposing the requirement.

Now members of unions representing Chicago firefighters, electrical workers, Teamsters, and state, county and municipal public employees bound by the decision must be fully vaccinated by Dec. 31 or surrender pay until they comply.

The ruling carries implications for pending arbitration between the city and more than 20 other unionsover Lightfoot’s mandate. The mayor, emboldened by the favorable ruling, claimed her administration will continue to win challenges against the vaccination policy.

“Work with us to save lives,” Lightfoot told city employee unions after accusing them of wasting city resources on the litigation. “I hope the labor leaders, after yesterday’s decision, will link arms with us to continue that fight.”

Lightfoot’s statement referenced remaining challenges from the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police as well as a coalition of 23 Chicago labor unions that also filed temporary injunctions against the requirement seeking arbitration.

The Chicago police union was recently granted a hearing before the Illinois Labor Relations Board over claims that Lightfoot failed to bargain in good faith with the union over her vaccine directive.

Lightfoot introduced an Oct. 15 deadline for Chicago police to report their vaccination status and a Jan. 1, 2022, deadline to be vaccinated. Police union leaders convinced a judge to delay the vaccination deadline.

Since October, dozens of Chicago police were put on no-pay status for refusing to report their vaccination status to the city. Most have complied.

If the Illinois Labor Relations Board decides in the police union’s favor, it would be able to seek relief from or bargain over city COVID-19 mandates.