New York Mandate Podcast, Ep. 4: Metal Work Mechanic Gabriel

“Freedom of choice is a big deal. It's a big thing. There's one thing to have a public health emergency. And there's another to have draconian laws and measures and mandates in place. At the end of the day, they actually erode society. You're not helping anybody. What you're doing is you're tearing apart the fabric of society. You're not letting people go to work. You’re not letting them provide for their families.” - Gabriel

In this episode of the New York Mandate podcast, I talk with Gabriel, a welder who started working for the New York City Department of Sanitation as a metal work mechanic in 2017. He worked in DSNY’s Central Repair Shop, repairing trucks and equipment. In December 2021, he was put on unpaid leave when his application for a religious exemption to the New York City COVID-19 vaccine mandate for municipal workers was denied. His employment with DSNY was terminated in February 2022.

Gabriel talked with me about his 15-year career as a welder, what happened when his mother became ill and passed away during the height of the pandemic, and his loss of confidence in the health care system.

We also talked about union representation, why it will be tough for him to find another job as a welder despite his experience, and the lawsuit he’s bringing against the city.

Here are some links related to things we talked about during the episode:

New York Freedom RallyThis group has been organizing protests against vaccine mandates since they were first introduced in New York City.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionThe EEOC enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to Require COVID-19 Vaccination for City Employees and Certain City ContractorsThis is the order that former Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued on October 20, 2021 requiring New York City municipal employees and contractors to be vaccinated. This is the mandate that led to Gabriel’s employment being terminated.

Order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene to Require COVID-19 Vaccination in the WorkplaceThis is the order that former Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued on December 13, 2021 requiring all workers in New York City who work in a workplace or interact with other workers or the public to be vaccinated.

NYC Vaccination Requirement: WorkplacesThis is where you can find current information on New York City’s workplace vaccination requirements.

About the New York Mandate Podcast

The New York Mandate Podcast is an ongoing series of conversations exploring the costs and consequences of vaccine mandates in New York City. I’ll be talking with workers who have been directly affected by the mandates, as well as legal and policy experts.

In late 2021, the city introduced a series of requirements for workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These requirements were put in place through executive orders issued by the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio.

Current mayor Eric Adams continues to support the mandates, and they now extend to most working people in the city of New York. Private sector employers are required to affirm that their employees have been vaccinated, and public sector employees of city agencies have been terminated or put on unpaid leave for failing to comply with the vaccine requirement.

The views expressed in the New York Mandate podcast are the personal opinions of the people speaking, and are not intended to provide medical or legal advice.

Join the Conversation

Have you lost your job, been put on leave, or lost opportunities to work as an independent contractor as a result of your decision not to comply with a New York vaccine mandate? Did you take a vaccine against your wishes in order to keep your job? Please get in touch with me at [email protected].