HR report recommends Hamilton suspend mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for city workers

As the deadline approaches for city workers to show proof of COVID-19 shots or be fired, Hamilton city councillors will debate whether to scrap the policy altogether.

Currently, city workers have until May 31 to provide evidence that they've been vaccinated against COVID-19. Dozens are at risk of losing their jobs.

But city councillors, via the general issues committee, will consider a staff report Wednesday saying they should do away with those measures altogether to bring the city in line with provincial directives.

"The time has come for an additional series of policy changes to best reflect the circumstances and the environment," said the report, authored by Lora Fontana, general manager of human resources, and Matthew Sutcliffe, director of employee health and labour relations.

They point to "changes in current environment, including the evolution of COVID-19."

64 workers on unpaid leave

The report states 7,149 city workers are vaccinated (nearly 94 per cent) while 441 employees are regularly taking rapid antigen tests, which has cost the city roughly $80,000 so far.

Sixty-four have been put on unpaid leave because they refused to disclose their vaccine status or take part in testing.

If council supports the recommendations, all of the employees would be able to return to work as soon as the week of May 2.

The city wouldn't drop the vaccine mandate for city-run care homes, paramedics and those working at Red Hill Child Care Services.

Workers at city lodges who don't have shots will remain on leave, while testing will continue at the start of each shift for paramedics and three times a week for workers at the child care centre, according to the report.

All new hires for the city would also have to be vaccinated.

Medical officer of health 'supportive' of change

Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, said last month that immunization policies have "served their purpose."

Nearby cities have taken similar steps. This includes Burlington, which announced in March that unvaccinated employees will have the option to test.

Hamilton approved its vaccine verification policy in August before beefing it up in January to include termination for anyone who didn't show evidence of shots.

But the province announced in February that it was moving forward with Reopening Ontario, lifting proof of vaccination requirements for businesses.

The city report says Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton's Medical Officer of Health continues to support vaccination but, given the current circumstances and "legal challenges," she is "supportive" of the suggested changes to the mandate.

Vaccines prevent the worst outcomes of COVID-19, according to the report, but "encouraging trends" in the fight against the virus "mitigate the strongest response available" — namely firing staff.

It adds that terminating the employment of hundreds of employees would also carry costs, as well as risk litigation and grievances.

"Of course, should trends emerge that indicate that stronger measures are required," the report says. "All elements of this policy can be brought back to council for further consideration to reintroduce policy measures."