MLC, City Working Out Who Will Pay For Employees to Get COVID Tests

[MisterNiceKitty]

https://thechiefleader.com/news/news_of_the_week/mlc-city-working-out-who-will-pay-for-employees-to-get-covid-tests/article_2a00aab8-fea4-11eb-a4ff-1febf5b98c57.html
By CRYSTAL LEWIS

"The Municipal Labor Committee and the city are ironing out the details of mandatory coronavirus testing for unvaccinated city workers, including determining whether employees will be compensated for the time it takes to get tested.

City workers will be required to show proof that they’ve been vaccinated against COVID or get tested on a weekly basis starting Sept. 13, which is the first day of school. But several union leaders have expressed concerns about the logistics of weekly testing, including where city employees should go to get tested."

*********************************************************************************************************

"While unions representing city workers have had mixed reactions to the vaccinate-or-test rules, a major concern posed by labor organizations was whether weekly testing would be on the city’s dime. The de Blasio administration did not provide an estimate of how much the mandatory testing would cost.

One public employer, the City University of New York, will be giving faculty and staff working in-person 30 minutes of paid time off if the testing site is on campus and 45 minutes if they need to travel for testing, according to an Aug. 9 letter sent to employees. CUNY also stated that it plans to open 20 testing sites, 18 of which will be on campuses."

[ShazamIam]

1. I wouldn't oppose a grace period until official FDA approval then yes, pay for the cost of the test.

[Ms. Toad]

2. I sure hope they are giving equal paid time off for their vaccinated employees. n/t

[MisterNiceKitty]

3. To get vaccinated?

[Ms. Toad]

5. To do whatever the heck they want to do with it.

The bottom paragraph indicates unvaccinated people will be given paid time off to go be tested. Those who don't need testing should also be given the same time off.

Either make the unvaccinated people take unpaid time to get tested OR give the vaccinated people time off as well, to spend as they choose.

[MisterNiceKitty]

6. Here's the thing:

When the staff started getting their vaccinations, generous accommodations in terms of time were made. So now these similar accommodations will likely be made available to staff to get tested. All staff should get tested vaccinated or not. If the city doesn't want the expense or headache then there's always remote work.

[Ms. Toad]

8. This is time granted to people who chose not to be vaccinated

to get the tests which are mandatory because of their choice.

"The Municipal Labor Committee and the city are ironing out the details of mandatory coronavirus testing for unvaccinated city workers, including determining whether employees will be compensated for the time it takes to get tested.

Not at all equivalent.

The work that is not being done by those who chose not to be vaccinated while they run off for mandatory testing will be shifted to those who chose to get vaccinated, since those who were vaccinated aren't being given equivalent time off.

Punishing those who are vaccinated - and rewarding those who aren't is the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

It's like giving smokers a paid smoke break, but not giving the same paid non-working time to non-smokers.

[flying rabbit]

4. Make them do it on their own time.

I am tired of paying for ignorance.

[MisterNiceKitty]

7. You can't compel members of a union do anything without collective bargaining

especially when it's a condition of employment and would fall under a CBA.

Of course we could also get rid of unions altogether Would that work?

[flying rabbit]

9. As much as a pain in the ass that unions can be...

...I would rather live in a world with them, than without them.