Vaccine showdown in the Windy City: Nearly 50% of Chicago's 13,000-strong police force could be put on unpaid LEAVE for ignoring Mayor Lori Lightfoot's compulsory shot order

dm ^ | 10/16/2021 | thaler

[Navy Patriot]

Nearly 50% of Chicago's 13,000-strong police force could be put on unpaid LEAVE for ignoring Mayor Lori Lightfoot's compulsory shot order

Let it be so.

[vivenne]

They are already full. Maybe they can try Alaska.

[Trillian]

heh

[monkeyshine]

Yes it is an interesting approach. I haven’t thought it entirely through but from a legal perspective I suppose if you are vaxxed they have no cause to fire you. (Not that they should either way). The officers are just refusing to disclose their medical records which afaik is their right.

[mass55th]

"If they go on unpaid leave, they are not coming back. They will head to FL, TX, SC, ND, or OK."

I'd like to know what the Union contract says. I'd bet that any suspension due to discipline, no matter how severe, must be paid leave, because the person is considered innocent until a proper hearing can be held, and final decision from an arbitrator attained. Most law enforcement agencies, especially the big ones have agreements with Unions that no one will be put out of work on unpaid leave...ever. Years ago, it wasn't that way at all, but times have changed, and anyone suspended these days is paid while they are out. I don't think she can arbitrarily withhold their pay.

[mass55th]

"I could be mistaken, but from what I have read it may not be 50% that are refusing the vax. They are refusing to turn over their papers."

Even if they are refusing to obey a direct order by refusing to get the shots, it doesn't, and legally won't constitute her suspending them without pay. Each person has to be officially charged, and arbitration hearings scheduled.

[I want the USA back]

With half the police out, crime will triple. Looks like it’s more important to force compliance than to save lives.

[TigersEye]

She said in Thursday's filing that the police union president was 'engaging in, supporting, and encouraging a work stoppage or strike'.

I don't like unions but isn't that the job of a union president?

[max americana]

I read an article last year that half of Seattle’s cops who quit over the defunding movement moved to FL.

[wally_bert]

I’m all for good cops in those places coming to places where they will be welcome.

[simpson96]

All the Dem voters, and their families, who become new crime victims there, will STILL vote Democrat.

I’m not joking.

[grobdriver]

This broad should take a page form the Delta playbook.

[frank ballenger]

They should be ok. They have tough gun laws./s

Right. Who needs law enforcement?

And all the gun Free Zone signs. No one would dare violate one of those. Criminals shake just thinking about it.

[Golden Eagle]

With half the police out, crime will triple.

Some probably figure the salaries for security guards will triple too, and plan to go that route instead.

[RetiredTexasVet]

I suspect that they could go out on strike legally. Most of those union contracts have the clause that any changes in condition of employment or work rules must be negotiated. I think Beatle Juice and the judge are out of their league.

[null and void]

If the city does this the PD should pull police protective detachments from all government officials as they will be desperately needed on the streets.

I do like the way you think!

[WildHighlander57]

Some companies are wanting status and are treating “decline to disclose” as a resignation, so if folks with both shots decline to disclose, along with those in between shots and those with no shots, it really gums up the works.

Oh, and another wrinkle, what about those folks that, regardless of shots status, had already put in for retirement- what would the company (try to) do to them?

[MinorityRepublican]

No wonder Chicago Bears want to move out of Soldier Field and move to a new stadium in the suburbs.

[Boardwalk]

Maybe I am in the minority but it’s the end of the world and I feel fine.

[Eleutheria5]

But do they have zero tolerance policies in schools?