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City Of Duluth Didn’t Publicly Disclose Earlier Approval Of Vax Mandate
So what took so long? The City of Duluth is moving faster than the fed. And they've been keeping it from the public for more than a month.
While a proposed federal mandate for all employers to require COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing for employees would start in January, the city will beat that date by almost two months. All employees with the City of Duluth (and interns) will need to show proof that they have received the COVID-19 vaccine by November 15 or face weekly testing. According to our news partners at WDIO, "[u]nvaccinated employees who have had a positive COVID-19 test within the last three months will not be required to undergo the weekly testing".
But what's interesting is that the City of Duluth adopted the policy on September 27 but didn't announce it publicly until now.
According to details about the new COVID-19 vaccination policy released by the city, the tests are "job-related and consistent with business necessity". They also share that "positive test[s] will not be used as the basis for discipline or discharge".
Positive tests won't used against the employee. But refusal to get vaccinated or submit to the weekly testing will.
The lack of vaccination or the refusal to submit to the weekly tests will be grounds to be "sent home on unpaid leave". Eventually, the City will fire the employee for not getting the vaccine or submitting to the weekly test: "After a fifth week or refusing to take a test, employees are subject to termination".
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A review process will be in place for the employee to "tell their side of the story" with a supervisor and a union representative present. However, the city has not shared whether or not this will change the outcome of the termination.
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