PITTSBURGH — More than 90% of Port Authority workers have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, but there are still employees holding out and protesting the company’s mandate, willing to lose their jobs.
“Hero to zero” is what some signs read as Port Authority workers continued their protest. Nearly 80 workers have gotten the shot and returned, but far more have not.
Marching through downtown Pittsburgh carrying signs, chanting songs and waving the American flag, Port Authority workers took over the Smithfield and 6th Street intersection.
“I’d like to see us get our jobs back,” said worker Larry Popeck. “I’d like to see the mandate go away.”
Back in January, Port Authority announced that it would require all of its employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by March 15, a deadline that has now come and gone.
“Everybody else in this world is dropping these mandates,” Popeck said.
Port Authority is standing by its policy and as of today, has conducted 158 disciplinary hearings and fired nine employees. Eight have retired.
“They went and deliberated for 30 seconds and decided my fate,” said Johnathan Lutz, who worked for Port Authority for four years. He was terminated because he wouldn’t comply.
“They asked me if I was vaccinated, I didn’t say yes or no, I just told them that I didn’t want to answer it,” Lutz said.
Lutz told 11 News he wanted to retire at Port Authority one day. He wants his job back, for the Port Authority to see the value of the Union, its workers, and a compromise.
“They called us heroes, but now we are just replaceable,” Lutz said.
11 News was told that Port Authority is still working to determine the exact number of employees who remain off work due to the mandate.
Stay with us as we continue to follow this story.
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