TTC to drop COVID-19 vaccine mandate, reinstate employees who were fired
Posted November 17, 2022 1:05 pm.
Last Updated November 17, 2022 2:10 pm.
The Toronto Transit Commission says it is ending its mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement by the end of the month.
The TTC says the policy will come to an end on Nov. 27, adding those employees who were let go as a result of non-compliance will be offered the opportunity to return.
However, the transit agency says it will be updating its Condition of Employment Policy to include compliance with similar mandates of this nature in the future if they are required.
The TTC introduced its vaccine mandate on Sept. 7, 2021, in an effort to keep employee illnesses as a result of the virus to a minimum while continuing to operate “its essential service” throughout the pandemic. Employees had until the end of 2021 to disclose their vaccine status.
While the TTC never disclosed the number of employees who were terminated, the union says it was more than 300.
“Eligible employees whose employment was terminated as a result of the policy will be offered the opportunity to be reinstated by the TTC,” the TTC said in a statement on Thursday. “They will not be eligible for back pay but their seniority will be preserved.”
While the TTC gave no reason for lifting its mandate at this time, its decision comes a week after the City of Toronto announced it was lifting its own COVID mandate for city employees as of Dec. 1. The City said it was doing so based on evidence which now suggests that mandatory vaccines are no longer necessary.
