City employees facing unpaid leave due to vaccination policy drops by 228

The number of City of Hamilton staff who were to be placed on an unpaid leave of absence for not complying with the vaccination policy has decreased by 228 staff members, sitting around 89 full- and part-time employees, the city said in a release.

Most of the 89 employees are in transit and the fire department, the release added.

Earlier this year, the city introduced a vaccine mandate requiring all municipal workers to provide proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination or agree to regular rapid testing - a program over 500 employees participate in.

The city initially expected to place around 317 staff members on unpaid leave for not declaring their vaccination status or participating in the testing program, which began on Nov. 4.

With the 89 employees who are on unpaid leave, the city says the use of contingency plans has largely avoided any service impacts for residents, but they have experienced some minor service impacts in transit."

The HSR had previously issued a release warning of a driver shortage due to the policy and that contingency planning" had begun. Those plans would focus on rush-hour service at the start and end of each day and cut service on high-frequency" routes where required.

The city said it will continue to monitor the situation, as it changes daily."

Some service impacts in transit due to the policy are reduced service on Route 51 University, which will stay in place until further notice. Regular service between downtown and the west end will continue on routes 1 King, 5 Delaware, 10 B-Line.

This has been enough to avoid any other service cancellations," the city said.

City spokesperson Jasmine Graham previously told The Spectator there are no expected impacts" regarding waste collection and the parks department as contingency plans are in place for both."

Graham added that the city didn't expect any impacts on response times or service for the fire department.

Alessia Passafiume is a reporter with The Spectator. Reach her via email: apassafiume@thespec.com