Alan’s Thoughts: An MFA Member’s Opinion on April 15, 2024 Court Date

Above Photo is from the actual court date at Brooklyn Appellate Division, Second Department.

MFA supports the fired NYC Sanitation workers who refused the so-called vaccine.  The case is called the “Garvey et al” case and they sued and won in the lower court, and then, of course, the City appealed that decision.  MFA Member Alan (and many others!) were at the Brooklyn Appellate Division on April 15, 2024, to support our wrongfully fired City workers.  Here are Alan’s thoughts:

I went to the proceeding in Brooklyn. They first read off a list of about a dozen cases, and Garvey Case was number 10. Fortunately, they then heard Garvey first. (Phew!)

The City argued a bunch of B.S. but did try to make the case that the NYC Sanitation Union Collective Bargaining Agreement allows for a Vax requirement, which our side disputed.

Attorney Sujata Gibson, who represents the wrongfully fired teachers, was there, but our side was presented by Attorney Chad Laveglia. He argued that when Adams exempted pro athletes and entertainers from a Vax requirement, this was an unfair carve-out and, because of Equal Protection, the NYC Sanitation Workers should be exempt too. Because the one exemption was just about economic advantage, and thus not about public health.

Quite a few people were there in support — maybe 30, including Michael Kane from Teachers for Choice and Aimee from NYC for Yourself.

Sujata, outside afterwards, said to expect it could take a year or more to get a judgment, and apologized to the workers still suffering.

She and Michael Kane thanked people for being there, and Kane promoted a trip to Albany next month to confront lawmakers and noted that one of the bills we want passed has a Democrat co-sponsor.