Syracuse’s biggest hospital lays off another 81 workers for refusing Covid vaccinations

Upstate University Hospital

Upstate University Hospital (Rick Moriarty / rmoriarty@syracuse.com) Rick Moriarty / rmoriarty@syracuRick Moriarty / rmoriarty@syracu

Syracuse, N.Y. – Upstate University Hospital has fired or suspended without pay another 81 employees, 39 of them nurses, for refusing to get state-mandated Covid-19 vaccinations.

Suspended workers have to meet with Upstate’s employee-labor relations officials to discuss their refusal to get vaccinated as part of disciplinary hearings.

Employees who were terminated had not worked at Upstate long enough to qualify for disciplinary hearings.

The terminations and suspensions, which took place Tuesday, were announced today by Upstate.

The hospital let go another 113 workers in September for refusing Covid shots.

The latest round of job cuts involved employees who had temporary religious exemptions to the mandate that were lifted earlier this month by a court decision.

The state-run hospital recently closed nearly 20% of its beds and stopped doing elective surgeries because it has about 400 vacant nursing positions.

“Any reduction of clinical staff and their supporting staff increases the chances we will have to further reduce staffed beds,” Upstate said in a prepared statement. “We will monitor closely to optimize operations to safely care for the patients we serve. We continue efforts to recruit and retain staff, which includes seeking ability to competitively compensate and improve quality of work environment.”

The state mandate applies to health care workers in hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, home care agencies and hospices.

Earlier this week, Crouse hospital fired 45 employees who refused Covid shots, while St. Joseph’s Health suspended 67.

James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com

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