Pittsburgh, county employees push back against COVID-19 vaccine requirements

The day after federal officials took a step forward with a vaccine mandate that will affect millions of workers across the country, a group gathered Downtown to speak out against similar requirements for city and county employees.

“A lot of us look at it as unnecessary. Some of us feel like our rights are being violated,” said Mike Barone, 35, from West Mifflin. “I’m one of them.” Mr. Barone said he does work for the county but declined to share any more details about his job. The protest was set to last through Friday afternoon. Those gathered said attendance fluctuated. Around 1 p.m., there were about 30 people gathered.
“We are protesting against the vaccine mandates. We are promoting freedom of choice,” said Alex Schmitt, 28, from Shaler. “... we’re protesting the fact that it is being forced on us.”

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced in late September that COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for all county employees in the executive branch by Dec. 1. Those who do not show proof of their vaccination by that date will face job termination, Mr. Fitzgerald’s office has said.That mandate applies to the roughly 5,000 employees in the executive branch.

This week, Mayor Bill Peduto announced a similar requirement for all city employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 22. In that case, more than 3,000 workers would be included in the mandate, and those who don’t comply or aren’t granted an exemption could be subject to unpaid leave or termination.

https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2021/11/05/COVID-19-vaccine-mandate-Allegheny-County-employees-city-of-Pittsburgh-employees-federal-vaccine-rule-OSHA/stories/202111050138