Global Courant 2023-04-26 01:31:33
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., issued a gloating tweet Tuesday in response to news that Chicago has been ordered to rehire and pay back wages to city workers who were fired for refusing to comply with COVID -19 vaccine mandate from Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2021.
“Gotta love it when petty tyrants get their comeuppance,” Paul tweeted with a link to an article about Administrative Judge Anna Hamburg-Gal’s ruling.
On April 19, Hamburg-Gal wrote on behalf of the Illinois Labor Relations Board that the city “failed and refused” to negotiate in good faith with union leaders “on the implications of its decision to implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate,” which she claimed was in violation of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.
CHICAGO MUST REHILL, REFUND WAGES TO EMPLOYEES PUNISHED FOR COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE: JUDGE
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The city must now pay back lost wages and benefits at 7% annual interest to Chicago union workers who work as carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians, machinists and other jobs.
Lightfoot angered some union workers when she warned in 2021 that there would be “consequences” for city workers who refused to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Senator Rand Paul suggested that the ruling in favor of Chicago workers fired over Lightfoot’s vaccine mandate was a deserved “commeuppance” for petty tyranny. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
“Employees who do not report their vaccination status before October 15, 2021 will be placed in non-disciplinary status with no pay,” her office said in a statement. press release at the time.
A spokesman for the mayor’s office was critical of the recent ruling in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“The minutes before the administrative court tell a completely different story. Yesterday’s ruling was an erroneous decision that is not in accordance with the law, the facts and especially not the science. We are currently reviewing the ruling and evaluating the next steps,” he said.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot became the city’s first Democratic mayor in 40 years not to win re-election amid a crime spree. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Lightfoot’s current term ends on May 15, after she became the first Democrat in 40 years to fail to win re-election as mayor of Chicago, where crime has skyrocketed in recent years.
Kristine Parks of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
