Posted on 08/09/2021 2:25:38 PM PDT by algore
From: Governor Jay Inslee Sent: Monday, August 9, 2021 2:05 PM Subject: COVID-19 vaccine mandate
Dear fellow state employee,
I am writing today to let you know that I am requiring, by issuance of a proclamation, that all employees who work in state service for executive cabinet agencies must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18, 2021, along with on-site contractors and volunteers.
I have also mandated vaccination in some private health and long-term care services. I am taking this action pursuant to my emergency powers as Governor of the State of Washington found at RCW 43.06.220.
This is not a decision I made lightly. I directed my staff to listen deeply to stakeholders, including labor organizations and department managers, to understand the many challenges facing state government as we respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of you are critical frontline workers and serve the public in positions which were not able to be performed remotely. You have been courageous beyond measure. Many of you shifted your approach and managed to achieve continuity of services from your homes in a way we have never asked of you before.
This was hard and you persevered in providing excellent service to the state in extraordinarily difficult times while some of you experienced personal and professional losses due to the disease. This has been a grueling period for all.
Now, we have the most effective tools available to operate safe workplaces and strengthen our commitment to the public – the COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccines have been deemed safe and effective by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and comparable agencies around the world.
Timing couldn’t be better because we are also facing a new strain of the disease that is more easily transmitted and more aggressive, especially for unvaccinated persons. Hospitals are jammed and health care personnel are exhausted.
In arriving at my decision on how best to keep employees and customers safe, I considered permitting an employee to elect to test on a regular routine rather than mandating state employees be vaccinated against COVID-19, but ultimately determined that option was not suitable. I would like you to understand that thinking.
• First, we have implemented a routine testing process in many of our 24-7 facilities for unvaccinated staff and it has not prevented outbreaks. Unfortunately, outbreaks have continued to occur affecting employees, clients and families and we have lost dedicated staff. We owe it to those in our care and their families to do everything in our power to prevent these events. We owe it to you, our employees, and your families as well.
• Increasingly, the scale of a testing approach to across the entire state enterprise is costly and administratively burdensome. Sustaining a strategy which permits staff to test weekly would cost more than $66 million per year and still would not provide the protection in our work and care settings that we need.
• As we head into another surge of COVID-19 outbreaks across our state, driven by a rapidly increasing presence of the DELTA variant, it is more important than ever that we all act now to protect ourselves, our co-workers and our communities.
I understand we may not agree, but I hope this letter has helped you to understand the thinking which led to this decision. I expect your agency leadership will be communicating with you on details and, where applicable, with exclusive bargaining representatives on the impacts of this mandate.
Our agencies will also work diligently to support individuals with medical or religious beliefs to require accommodation from this directive. I am confident the time we have between now and October 18 is adequate to effectively implement this requirement and do what is needed to protect the safety of Washingtonians.
Thank you for your compassion and service. Together, we can combat COVID-19.
Very truly yours,
Jay Inslee
Well, then...send them to Chicago.
SIEG HEIL !!
Another tightening of the noose around the country. Soon, there won’t be too many places to run to for safety. But hey, the keyboard warriors have us covered!
“I am requiring, by issuance of a proclamation...”
Sure sounds that way.
So they'll abandon that and mandate everyone get a vaccine that is not effective against the delta variant.
Hold all Calls, folks. WE have a Winner.
Executive Cabinet Agencies is not all or every state employee.
Did not realize till last year the US had become a fascist dictatorial country. This is just more proof.
And free syringes too. 💉
In other news, the governor renamed the capital city “Mengele” and proudly unveiled a statue in Mengele’s honor.
Per the Seattle Times:
“That covers a range of different agencies, such as the Departments of Commerce, Ecology and Agriculture, as well as the Washington State Patrol. It will apply to the state’s largest agencies, including the Departments of Transportation, Corrections and Social and Health Services. Employees will be required to show proof of vaccination.”
Essentially the order does not affect schools, colleges and universities.
While here in NH, Governor Sununu jusT signed a bill passed by the state government that prohibits the state from mandating the vax as a condition of employment.
Sununu signs law banning vaccine mandates in New Hampshire
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3980540/posts
WA State Employees will take it like the shepel they are.
I keep hearing people say this is the first iteration of the mark of the beast, only to be ridiculed by others who poo poo such thinking. But if you don’t have the mark/vax the government is saying you can neither buy, sell, work or trade. Get vaxed or be cast out from society.
Appears The Book of Revelations is coming to pass.
They are using these mandates to purge out all those are not good Nazi’s, leaving only those who will unquestioning follow orders.
I’m glad in many ways I’m not really wanted or want much to do with society in general now.
This life is temporary and short so just as well.
Looks like Inslee is going as Stalin for Halloween.
Pretty convincing!
Good thing I never cared too much about following mindless orders.
Like Mannix in season one, driving his boss nuts doing things his own way but getting results.
But I don’t have any of Mannix’s redeeming attributes going for me.
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