DOUGLAS COUNTY PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, IAFF ∙ AFL – CIO, LOCAL 2091 Response to Governor Kite Browns Mandate
On August 19th, Governor Kate Brown issued a mandate that all healthcare workers in Oregon, including first responders, be vaccinated or face termination. Douglas County Professional Firefighters Local 2091 adamantly disagrees with forced vaccinations and defends our member's “right to choose” when it comes to personal medical decisions. No one is more keenly aware of the risks, or had more direct experience with Covid-19 than the men and women in the medical field; particularly in emergency services.
Douglas County Professional Firefighters have had ample opportunity to receive the vaccination, to include hosting one of the first drive-through clinics available to the county. We trust any member who is not vaccinated at this point to have thoughtfully and thoroughly considered all aspects, and we should respect their decision. To threaten these brave men and women who have fought on the front lines for nearly two years during this pandemic with termination if they do not comply is the literal definition of coercion. Furthermore, this mandate appears to be in direct opposition to ORS 433.416(3) which expressly forbids forced immunization as a condition of employment of healthcare workers; including firefighters.
This mandate sets a dangerous precedent, and should be very concerning to all when politicians use loopholes, fear tactics and threats to further agendas. Our collective opposition to this mandate is not about politics, Covid-19, or the vaccine itself. It is about basic American freedoms and our rights as individuals to make personal medical choices.
In addition to the fact that all members have already agreed with a vaccine mandate when they obtain their medical license. The vaccine mandate was established years ago, requiring proof of vaccination in order to start EMS training. Speaking as a professional Oregon firefighter that is part of a different union, this is an embarrassment to the fire service.
ReplyDeleteHad the governor said to NOT get the vaccine, you guys would be tripping over each other to get it. Yes it is about politics and you are letting politics get in the way of common sense. So what is next - are you going to drive intoxicated and say that the law took away your freedom to drink, drive and kill? Maybe you will get a protest going against the 'No shirt, no shoes, no service" rule. Drop those boobs on the bar - it's your right! And don't forget to cut those seatbelts out of your rigs - just because they save lives is no reason to use them since there is a law mandating it. I think there are awards for the courage and intelligence shown by Local 2091 - it's the Darwin Awards.
ReplyDeleteThey should actually read the ordinance that they are referring to:
ReplyDelete"A worker shall not be required as a condition of work to be immunized under this section, unless such immunization is otherwise required by federal or state law, rule or regulation. [1989 c.949 §3]"
They conveniently left out "is otherwise required by federal or state law, rule, or regulation."
Perhaps the ones who refuse should be fired, because they are to stupid to do the position. That is who we need in the fire service to respond to emergencies, stupid firefighters.
“Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”
ReplyDeleteMark Twain
Thats the pot calling the kettle black🤣😅🤣
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