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NYC Workers Fired for Refusing COVID Vaccine Could Get Their Jobs Back, Adams Says
Mayor Eric Adams is offering 2,900 former city workers who lost their jobs after refusing to comply with COVID-19 vaccine mandates a path to return.
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services published a notice Wednesday of a proposed rule that would allow the teachers, firefighters and other municipal employees who were dismissed to apply to be reinstated. The proposed rule change will be subject to a public hearing and final approval by the New York state Civil Service Commission, according to the mayor’s office.
The former workers would be able to regain their old titles at their former salaries, but would not be eligible for backpay, the mayor’s office said.
Adams said in a statement Wednesday that the 2021 vaccine mandate, which was put in place by predecessor Bill de Blasio, helped the city weather the pandemic.
“But we recognize that we are in a different place today than we were nearly four years ago, and our policies should match the realities of the times,” Adams said.
The move comes as the city is still embroiled in multiple lawsuits with city workers who were fired over the mandate. According to City Hall, the policy change wouldn’t affect the ongoing litigation and those seeking to return to work wouldn’t be asked to drop their lawsuits.
Montana Supreme Court Orders Part of Vaccine Discrimination Law Restored
In a decision that is both technical and gives both sides a sort of victory, the Montana Supreme Court has ordered part of an anti-vaccine law restored, while opening the door for other legal challenges to the state’s policy of not discriminating against citizens due to their vaccination status.
The Montana Supreme Court unanimously ruled on a lawsuit originally filed during the height of the COVID-19 vaccine controversy, which was happening during the 2021 Legislature. Republican-led lawmakers made it illegal for most businesses to require employees to disclose their vaccination status or treat them differently.
While the law said employers and businesses could require masks, it could not treat people differently based on their vaccine status or require them to be vaccinated as part of their employment. The law created carve-outs for healthcare facilities.
Netzer Law Firm of Billings had challenged the measure, saying it violated a number of state constitutional rights, as well as jeopardized the health and safety of its employees.
It was one of several lawsuits filed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ultimately state district court Judge Olivia Rieger did not issue an injunction against the law, allowing it to go into effect. The case wound its way to the state’s only appellate court, the Montana Supreme Court, which reviewed the case, determining that Rieger did not abuse her judicial discretion by not issuing an injunction, but sent the case back to be heard on the merits.
Public Health Bill Including Mandatory Vaccinations Scrapped
Legislation which could have included mandatory vaccinations for people in Northern Ireland (NI) has been scrapped by the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. The NI Public Health Bill was designed to deal with future public health emergencies like the coronavirus pandemic.
However, campaigners said the new law would breach civil liberties and individual human rights.
The Department of Health previously said the new law was necessary to replace outdated legislation and bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK.
As well as infectious diseases, the bill was designed to cover infection and contamination from biological, chemical and radiological sources.
Nesbitt confirmed the bill was being scrapped during health question time in the assembly on Monday. He said there had been concerns raised about human rights and the Northern Ireland government “could potentially overreach into people’s personal freedoms and decision-making.”
Stop Foreign-Owned Apps From Harvesting Your Personal Data
You might not think twice about that flashlight app you downloaded or the cute game your grandkids recommended. Yet with a single tap, your private data could travel halfway across the world into the hands of people who profit from selling it. A growing threat is emerging as foreign-owned apps quietly collect massive amounts of personal data about you, and older Americans are among the most vulnerable.
We all love free apps. Whether it’s a shopping deal finder, a weather tracker or a photo editor, they make life easier. But many of these “free” tools aren’t really free; they just don’t charge you money. Instead, they collect your personal information and sell it to make their profit.
A recent study revealed that over half of the most popular foreign-owned apps available in U.S. app stores collect sensitive user data, including your location, contacts, photos and even keystrokes.
