1,887 WA workers fired, leave jobs due to vaccine mandate

By RACHEL LA CORTE
Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Office of Financial Management says that more than 1,800 state workers have been fired, resigned or retired due to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for state employees. The cases of an additional 2,887 are pending because they are either in the process of receiving a job accommodation, are planning to retire, are getting vaccinated or are awaiting separation from their agency. Monday was the deadline for thousands of workers in Washington to prove they’ve been fully vaccinated in order to keep their jobs. The mandate _ issued by Gov. Jay Inslee in August _ applies to most state workers, long-term care employees, and teachers and staff at the state’s schools, including the state’s colleges and universities.