CINCINNATI — The city of Cincinnati will delay the start of its vaccination and testing requirements for staff for another month.
Under the policy, which was authored Sept. 1, all city employees will have to either provide proof of vaccination or undergo testing for COVID-19 on a regular basis.
The rules were set to go into effect this Tuesday, but City Manager Paula Boggs Muething released a memo on that same day, saying the city had amended the rules and decided to push the start date to the week of Oct. 24.
The memo to department directors said the changes are the result of "further input and feedback from our bargaining units," or labor unions.
"Human Resources will provide a monthly forum for unions to bring forth comments and concerns regarding the application of this policy," the updated policy reads.
Beyond the implementation date, the updated policy has also affected the frequency with which staff will need to be tested, at least at first.
"Initially, documentation of testing will be required on a bi-weekly basis, but will move to a weekly basis as determined by the availability of resources," the memo reads.
Staff can receive free testing at one of the city's downtown office spaces but other testing options will be available. Those tests just can't be older than 72 hours.
The changes come as a result of public criticisms of the mandate over the past two weeks by Dan Hils, president of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) 69.
On Sept. 13, he went to Facebook to call the policy "politically motivated and discriminating to a significant percentage of (city of Cincinnati) workers."
"Most of the departments and people you command have worked loyally through the pandemic to this point. The Metropolitan Sewer (District of Greater Cincinnati), (Greater Cincinnati) Water Works, (the Department of Public Services), Fire and Police kept Cincinnati and the surrounding communities functioning, when others stayed in isolation and worked from home. Now they are being threatened with their livelihoods if they don’t submit to what should be a personal medical decision. Intrusive weekly testing is nothing but an effort to harass your employees into vaccination,” he wrote in part.
He went on to say that while he could only speak on behalf of the Cincinnati Police Department officers he represents, he had heard similar things from other city union leaders.
“There are similar passions throughout the workforces,” he said.
Other major city labor unions include AFSCME, CODE and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Union Local 48.
Spectrum News reached out to representatives from the other major unions for comment but has not yet heard back.
While the testing and vaccination elements of the policy have been delayed, other elements are in effect. That includes a requirement that all unvaccinated city staff wear masks while at work, in a city vehicle or working with the public.
Vaccinated employees are still encouraged to wear a mask in those situations.
Also, only vaccinated employees are eligible for paid leave if they contract COVID-19 or are required to infection or quarantine.
Unvaccinated employees who do not comply with the testing requirement or test positive for COVID-19 will go on leave. While on leave, they'll have to use their "accrued balances" of sick or personal time or "remain in an unpaid status," per the policy.
The city policy does allow for various exemptions and special circumstances, including what happens if an employee tests positive while in between the first and second doses of a vaccination cycle.