MINNEAPOLIS — Officials with Hennepin County say the vast majority of workers have complied with orders to get a COVID vaccine, but some are still holding out and may be terminated Thursday.
The mandate requiring county employees to be vaccinated originally was set in place back in November of 2021 with a Jan. 4 deadline. The vaccination deadline was later pushed back to April 4.
More than 100 employees could be terminated unless they get vaccinated.
Union members and the county have been going back and forth for months trying to find a resolution that will satisfy both sides.
Union attorneys filed an appeal requesting a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the county mandate from going into effect on Monday, April 4. On Friday, Hennepin County District Court Judge James Moore denied the TRO, ruling that the plaintiffs had not proven in their arguments that union members would be "irreparably harmed" by the vaccine policy.
Hennepin County Administrator David Hough told KARE 11 at the end of March that vaccines are a "key part" of protecting others, while also helping to allow the easing of COVID restrictions.
He said, in part, that, "To date, we have been extremely successful in implementing this requirement. In fact, more than 98% of county’s nearly 9,000 employees have been vaccinated or received a religious or medical accommodation.
"We will be responding to the lawsuit and asserting that this county board decision regarding employee safety is not subject to collective bargaining."
All unvaccinated Hennepin County employees have until Thursday, April 7 to show proof of vaccination and avoid disciplinary action.
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