NYC firefighter union seeks vaccine deadline extension

The union representing New York City firefighters has vowed to fight against the city’s vaccine mandate.

The primary union representing firefighters in New York City has continued to fight against the city’s vaccine mandate deadline after failing to come to an agreement for an extension with the New York’s Office of Labor Relations. The head of the Uniformed Firefighter Association vowed on Wednesday to keep fighting for an extension on the Nov. 1 deadline and encouraged all unvaccinated workers to continue working.

Despite Mayor Bill de Blasio’s (D-N.Y.) order, Union President Andrew Ansbro said he hopes to come to an agreement to extend the deadline as soon as Friday.

“I don’t think the mayor understands what’s going to happen on Nov. 1. There is going to be a catastrophic manpower staffing shortages,” said Ansbro. “I was told that because that manpower, staffing shortage, if 3,500 firefighters that are currently unvaccinated are told to not go to work.”