Gainesville employees join suit against COVID-19 vaccine mandate

A lawsuit has been filed against the city of Gainesville on behalf of more than 200 employees, including police officers and firefighters, alleging that the vaccination mandate was in violation of their rights to due process and equal protection.

In a preamble to the heart of the lawsuit, attorney Jeff Childers said city officials once referred to the people who filed the lawsuit as “heroes” for their work during the pandemic. A number of employees have become infected with COVID-19, the lawsuit says.

“They are goats now; Scapegoats for failed city politics, scapegoats for failed political leaders, and federal politics, ”wrote Childers. “In their mad rush to resolve a persistent problem that was not caused by plaintiffs, the city has come up with a hideous scheme to force plaintiffs to take unwanted and unnecessary Covid vaccines by making a living, their pensions and threaten dreams. “

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The city does not give in.

“The health, safety and well-being of the city’s workers and those we serve is our number one priority,” said a city statement sent to The Sun Thursday evening. “The city has taken the necessary steps to achieve this priority and to stand by this decision.”

The lawsuit has been filed with the district court and applies for an injunction to terminate the mandate.

The city commissioners voted on August 5 for city officials to provide proof of vaccination, get vaccinated or be fired. Employees have until October 1st to get vaccinated.

“I believe that we have to fight this and the best way to fight this is with vaccines,” said Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos at the meeting.

Desmon Duncan-Walker, Gail Johnson and Harvey Ward voted against the mandate.

Since then, city workers have been protesting. The suit is the newest step.

The vaccination mandate violates a state ban on “vaccination passports” in order to prevent state authorities from requiring a vaccination when entering facilities.

The lawsuit also alleges that the mandate violates employees’ rights to privacy and physical integrity.

The post Gainesville employees join suit against COVID-19 vaccine mandate first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

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