DM firefighters dispute with city over sick days from vaccine side effects
The Des Moines Firefighters’ Union is upset that a few of its members grew to become ailing after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and have to make use of common sick time whereas they get well. The union had a deal that the city couldn’t county restoration from the COVID-19 vaccine as common sick depart. But the deal was made earlier than anybody knew how individuals would react to the vaccine. “The adverse effect of the shot is that our folks are getting sick, but it’s not necessarily within those first 24 hours,” mentioned Joe Van Haalen, the president of the Des Moines Firefighters’ Union. Van Haalen mentioned the union reached an settlement that the city would cowl sick time for firefighters 24 hours after the COVID-19 vaccination. But many firefighters work 24 hours on, 48 hours off shifts. Nearly a dozen received sick after the 24-hour interval. So the city made them use common sick depart. “This wasn’t something they created on their own. This wasn’t a sickness. We are exposed to all kinds of things when we are responding to emergency calls. So it just seems like this would be a really easy one for the city to pick up and say, ‘Hey thanks or all you’ve done. We appreciate that you’re willing to go out and take the vaccination,'” Van Haalen mentioned. The union did not get wherever with the city and eventually despatched a tweet letting individuals know concerning the disagreement. KCCI contacted the City of Des Moines. City Manager Scott Sanders launched a press release that mentioned partially, “We are fortunate and pleased to have been some of the first to facilitate vaccinations in accordance with local and national guidelines. As recently as yesterday, the city was continuing the conversation regarding what is being done and what can be done to protect our frontline workers and assist them going forward, including continued evaluation of the side effects of vaccinations and how that impacts the workplace. That process and discussion will continue between the city and all our employee groups.”
The Des Moines Firefighters’ Union is upset that a few of its members grew to become ailing after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and have to make use of common sick time whereas they get well.
The union had a deal that the city couldn’t county restoration from the COVID-19 vaccine as common sick depart. But the deal was made earlier than anybody knew how individuals would react to the vaccine.
“The adverse effect of the shot is that our folks are getting sick, but it’s not necessarily within those first 24 hours,” mentioned Joe Van Haalen, the president of the Des Moines Firefighters’ Union.
Van Haalen mentioned the union reached an settlement that the city would cowl sick time for firefighters 24 hours after the COVID-19 vaccination. But many firefighters work 24 hours on, 48 hours off shifts. Nearly a dozen received sick after the 24-hour interval. So the city made them use common sick depart.
“This wasn’t something they created on their own. This wasn’t a sickness. We are exposed to all kinds of things when we are responding to emergency calls. So it just seems like this would be a really easy one for the city to pick up and say, ‘Hey thanks or all you’ve done. We appreciate that you’re willing to go out and take the vaccination,'” Van Haalen mentioned.
The union did not get wherever with the city and eventually despatched a tweet letting individuals know concerning the disagreement.
KCCI contacted the City of Des Moines. City Manager Scott Sanders launched a press release that mentioned partially, “We are fortunate and pleased to have been some of the first to facilitate vaccinations in accordance with local and national guidelines. As recently as yesterday, the city was continuing the conversation regarding what is being done and what can be done to protect our frontline workers and assist them going forward, including continued evaluation of the side effects of vaccinations and how that impacts the workplace. That process and discussion will continue between the city and all our employee groups.”
