Vaccine Mandate Fallout

As you know Hennepin County as well as many Sheriff's Offices required employees, including CO's and Deputies to be vaccinated with the experimental Covid shot or be fired. I wrote about this back in December, January, and March. 

Many CO's and Deputies left rather than take the jab, and that at a time of a critical shortage in both job classes.

Alpha News now has the story of Hennepin County Detective Stacy Braun (I knew him from his time working the jail) who quit rather than take the jab. It's a good read of the injustice done to those who were hailed as heros at the beginning of the pandemic than villainized by the end for refusing to take the shot, even though by then many had already had Covid.

How many good people left rather than submit to the shot or did submit and were harmed?

Not only was this wrong, but  I believe the Counties that did this are wide open for lawsuits from those harmed by the shots or were forced to leave.

How to grieve the vaccine mandate

 Hennepin County has ordered all of it's employees to get the covid vaccines by April or face termination. This is wrong on many fronts, medically, morally, legally and contractually. Other employers have already lost in court their forced vaccination mandates. Here's how to do it at Hennepin County. This will be specific for the MNPEA Detention Deputy Contract but is easily adaptable to them all. 

TALK to the MNPEA Lawyers and Stweards!

Here's the link to the Agreement (contract) https://www.hennepin.us/-/media/hennepinus/employees/labor-contracts/mnpea-vv-2019-2021-final.pdf

Article One section one states this is ...the Complete Agreement between the parties...

Detention Deputies worked through the entire Covid 'pandemic.' They worked even before the vaccines were available. At this point many if not most have had Covid contracted in the jail and carry natural immunity. Also at this point any who wanted the vaccine have had it. The County is coercing the rest on pain of being fired. It is now fact that the vaccines neither prevent, nor stop the spread of Covid so mandatory vaccination seems pointless.

So here's my sample grievance. I would advise MNPEA members to talk to the MNPEA lawyers and Stewards  to better craft it for you. Also VERY IMPORTANT, if more than one signs on it can be done as a class action grievance covering the entire bargaining unit.

GRIEVANCE (Sample)

Date__________

Name______________________________________________

I __________________ am not willing to take the Covid 19 Vaccinations being mandated by the Employer Hennepin County.

Section of Agreement violated:

Section one Article One. This was not negotiated and as such cannot be ordered. It must be negotiated.

Furthermore the Mandate ignores natural immunity. Religious exemptions, medical exemptions and bodily autonomy must be recognized.

Grievant signature:                                                                    Union Representative:

Supervisor/Employer Signature:

 

Use whatever form MNPEA has now and talk to your Steward. Furthermore this opens up Hennepin County to lawsuits. There are known injuries to have occurred from the vaccine and if Hennepin County insists on mandating there may be financial consequences. 

Is Hennepin County willing to reimburse an employee for time off due to temporary side effects? Long term conditions such as blood clots, Bells Palsy, Myocarditus, strokes, death...? I'd make sure I had a guarantee in writing. While they may argue these are rare, they happen and if forced and they happen to you will the County step up?

Links:

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/12/23/judge-halts-vaccine-mandate-for-st-paul-city-employees

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/chicago-drops-police-union-lawsuit-vaccine-mandate-81507548

https://nypost.com/2022/01/21/texas-judge-blocks-biden-vaccine-mandate-for-federal-workers/