Public Employee Press

Union, HCC at odds over mandatory flu immunization

DC 37 is negotiating with the Health and Hospitals Corp. to protect members who must comply with a New York State regulation that all HHC workers be immunized for influenza this year before flu season or wear a protective mask while working.

"We do believe in vaccination," said Lisa Baum, a principal coordinator in DC 37's Health and Safety Unit. "But our members should not be forced or coerced to comply."

HHC finalized the state policy in July and informed the union that when flu vaccines become available they will begin implementing the new immunization policy as early as September. Temporary workers would have to comply as well.

The policy potentially affects tens of thousands of employees at HHC hospitals and clinics citywide. HHC's goal is to vaccinate 90 percent of its staff of 30,000 workers.

"This new policy is not about protecting workers," Baum said, "it's about protecting patients. And it has lots of holes."

One flaw, Baum said, is there is no scientific evidence that health-care workers transmit the influenza virus to patients. "Flu is a community-acquired infection. Community members are not limited in their access to patients. HHC has not required hospital visitors to be vaccinated or wear masks, so the union wants to understand how HHC is differentiating," she said.

"The union is not undermining members getting vaccinated. The number of vaccinated HHC workers is low," Baum said. "We want to see those numbers increase because we believe it would help and protect workers, but we don't agree with how HHC is implementing this policy."

DC 37 has prepared a fact sheet for HHC workers and union members at the Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene and other health-care facilities whose policies may be similar. The union is pressing HHC for a strong education component to this policy.

DC 37's Moira Dolan said the union's Research and Negotiations Dept. is identifying the policy's impact on HHC employees. DC 37 would like clear identification on who will and will not be required to wear masks or be vaccinated, how many masks will be provided, and other pressing issues, Dolan said. She urges union members who have concerns to speak with their local representatives.

Whether HHC has the ability to reach its target remains uncertain. In past flu seasons HHC only reached 50 percent of its immunization goal, which was offered on a voluntary basis. At the height of the H1N1 virus epidemic, HHC exhausted its immunization supply; the shortage forced the health-care behemoth to ration the vaccine.

In the meantime, DC 37 continues to meet with management and hopes a more reasonable policy that really protects workers will come from the state and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Baum said, "This is a long, protracted battle that won't be resolved by flu season."