Coalition Criticizes Port Authority’s COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization – CBS Pittsburgh

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The union representing Port Authority employees has called the vaccination mandate that threatens the loss of hundreds of workers a “disease”.

READ MORE: Waiting for the bus: The recent string of calls from the port authority worries riders

The Port Authority said 500 unvaccinated employees would be furloughed on Tuesday, though the union countered those numbers at a Monday morning news conference, saying the estimate was lower.

After what the Port Authority called an “apparent protest” on Saturday, the union called the claim misleading and said it did not tolerate labor shortages.

On a normal day, about 20 hours of work are lost due to incoming calls, but on Saturday that number spiked to 830 after a judge upheld the requirement to vaccinate employees.

READ MORE: Port Authority warns of service disruptions after staff calls ‘clear objection’

The union said there were some employees who were unable to get vaccinated for medical reasons and it did not think a mandate that resulted in hundreds of dedicated employees being terminated was fair without collective bargaining. , especially as cases are plummeting.

The union says some employees who have worked for the Port Authority for a quarter of a century have only been asked to go home.

While the Port Authority pointed to the union’s loss in court and said it would not negotiate, the union said it was not done fighting the legal battle.

The Port Authority is warning of significant delays and a large number of missed sailings if unappointed officers fail to comply with their duties by Tuesday. Riders are encouraged to use TrueTime to track trips.

MORE NEWS: County Judge Authorizes Port Authority COVID-19 Vaccination Officer to Proceed

Stay tuned to KDKA for the latest on this developing story.