113 LA firefighters put on unpaid leave for failing to comply with vaccine mandate

More than 100 Los Angeles city firefighters have been placed off duty without pay for failing to comply with the city’s vaccine mandate, authorities said.

In November, the Los Angeles Fire Department sent out notices to 222 firefighters informing them they would be sent home without pay unless they got the vaccine or requested an exemption, an LAFD spokeswoman said.

As of Monday, 113 firefighters had failed to respond to those notices, she said. They were placed off duty without pay, but will be allowed to use vacation hours or banked overtime to offset their lost wages.

The city, in August, directed its employees to get vaccinated unless they request a medical or religious exemption. Those who haven’t done either by Dec. 18, including firefighters, eventually will be subject to termination, a LAFD spokeswoman said.

“The number of firefighters placed off duty changes daily due to members updating their (vaccine status),” LAFD officials said in a statement. “That number will fluctuate.”

The union representing firefighters, the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112, requested a preliminary injunction through the court to prevent enforcement of the mandate, saying that it could lead to hundreds of firefighters being put on leave.

But last week that request was denied by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.

The judge said that even if all of the unvaccinated LAFD employees decided to leave because of the vaccine mandate, the department has sufficient contingency plans. Further, she noted, COVID-19 has disrupted the agency and led to two firefighter deaths.

There are more than 3,340 sworn LAFD firefighters and paramedics. The department recently welcomed 54 new recruits, and another class that began in November should be on duty by March, LAFD officials said.

The union, which did not return several messages for comment, also has an unfair labor practices charge pending before the Los Angeles City Employee Relations Board, according to a union bulletin sent out to members.

“While we are disappointed with the outcome, we will continue to fight to protect the rights of all UFLAC members,” the bulletin says.

A total of 321 unvaccinated sworn and civilian staff had applied for medical or religious exemptions as of Monday, the LAFD’s spokeswoman said. So far, none have been granted or rejected.

Officials were unable to estimate how long it might take to examine the cases, but the process may drag past the Dec. 18 deadline.

The union has not challenged in court the constitutionality of the mandate, but says the city has failed to follow bargaining procedures.