Tucson police union challenging city’s vaccine requirement

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PHOENIX (AP) – The union representing Tucson police officers is questioning the city’s decision to require the coronavirus vaccine from employees.

The Arizona Daily Star reports that the lawsuit filed Monday by the Tucson Police Officers Association alleges that the policy violates their employment contract “by unilaterally enacting the regulation without first negotiating in good faith the change in labor conditions” and Asking a court to declare the mandate to be illegal.

In a 6-1 vote on Friday, the council decided to make vaccinations mandatory for nearly 4,500 city workers, including about 760 in the police force.

The new regulation stipulates that all unvaccinated employees must provide evidence of at least their first vaccination dose by August 24 or expect a five-day ban. However, the mandate will not come into force if 750 unvaccinated employees can prove at least their first vaccination by August 20.

In addition to the five-day ban, unvaccinated employees could be subject to weekly testing requirements, stricter guidelines for wearing masks, travel restrictions, and restrictions on admission to certain assignments.

City manager Michael Ortega claims Tucson has an obligation to keep employees safe and can force them to get vaccinated or get regular tests. The ordinance exempts certain employees with illnesses and sincere religious beliefs from the mandate.

Meanwhile, at least 18 school districts defy state laws and impose mask requirements indoors. The Scottsdale Unified School District and Paradise Valley Schools are among several that decided this week to temporarily enforce the wearing of masks. Some offer opt-out options.

Several districts changed their minds after a judge ruled Monday that a new budget law banning mask mandates would not stop until Jan.

Governor Doug Ducey was outraged Tuesday when he increased pressure on these school districts by setting up a grant program that benefits schools that do not have mask requirements or are closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks. The $ 163 million program would offer an additional $ 1,800 per student.

The state health ministry reported 2,402 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 37 more deaths on Wednesday.

This brings the pandemic in Arizona to 972,925 cases and 18,504 deaths.

Hospital admissions for the virus continue to rise and stood at 1,759 as of Tuesday. The last time it was this high in mid-February.

Dr. Marjorie Bessel, Chief Clinical Officer at Banner Health, said during a briefing on Wednesday that a staff shortage exacerbated by the pandemic continues to be “one of our greatest challenges.” The state’s largest hospital system has seen an above-average volume of non-COVID-19 patients. Bessel said many of them are people who delayed care over the past year.

The number of pediatric COVID-19 patients is also showing “exponential growth,” said Bessel. During the first two weeks of August, Banner staff treated the same number of children as they did throughout July. You are well on your way to surpassing pediatric patient numbers during the height of the last winter wave.

Bessel also reiterated that vaccines are the only way. Last week, 94% of Banner’s COVID-19 patients were unvaccinated. Most of them are also between 20 and 60 years old, said Bessel.

“As our data clearly shows, vaccination will significantly reduce your chances of being in need of care in one of our hospitals,” said Bessel.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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