It’s time the city of Santa Monica mandated all city workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19. I am a 27 year old city worker currently working on an indoor construction site along with other staff who have not been vaccinated. While cities like Long Beach, Pasadena, and others have introduced mandatory vaccinations or weekly tests for employees, Santa Monica hasn’t. This is in large part because the largest workers union, the municipal workers’ association (MEA) thwarted the city’s plan to introduce a vaccination mandate.
Recently, MEA sent a message to its members claiming its mission is the health and safety of all employees, while citing the city’s consideration of considering an “overreach” mandate.
The union cannot argue that the city’s attempt to create a safe workplace by vaccinating workers against a fatal disease is “excessive” while arguing that the union is concerned about the health and safety of workers .
What do we know about the vaccine?
• The vaccine is effective in preventing the spread of disease.
• The Center for Disease Control, National Institute of Health, Los Angeles County Health Department, virtually every expert in science and epidemiology recommends vaccination to stop the spread of disease.
• Doctors and scientists consider the vaccination safe.
• An unvaccinated person is more likely to bring infections into the workplace and infect others.
• Vaccination by everyone is necessary to end the pandemic.
Why does the union disregard science and truth in favor of politics? This is not about freedom or individual rights. This is a public health crisis. Still, the union appears to be compromising in favor of those who get their information from Facebook and disregard science.
Unfortunately, under the leadership of President Rebecca Adams, MEA appears to be holding this for a moment to negotiate with the city and try to get something in return. That’s very cynical in my opinion.
While I appreciate MEA’s efforts to represent employees against adverse management decisions and in contract negotiations, management sometimes acts in good faith. In this case, management tries to create a safe working environment by following the instructions of health officials and scientists, the President, Vice-Presidents, Dr. Anthony Fauci and others follow. All advise vaccination.
Vaccinations to protect all workers should be the union’s mission. The union should not stress that it represents those who oppose science and good advice.
Jeffrey Altman works for the City of Santa Monica and submitted this letter as a private review.
Comments are closed.