NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT:
Michael Skelly
917-364-8142
NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION WINS TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM IN THE ONGOING BATTLE OVER VACCINE MANDATES
NEW YORK- In an unprecedented legal ruling against the Unified Court System (UCS), New York State Supreme Court Justice Christina L. Ryba granted the New York State Supreme Court Officers Association (SCOA) a Temporary Restraining Order on September 27th, which immediately prevents UCS from implementing its mandatory vaccination program for all New York State Supreme Court Officers. The Judge’s Order further prevents UCS from suspending SCOA Members from their jobs or denying them access to the courthouses where they are assigned. And equally paramount, the Judge’s Order fully restores any SCOA Members back to full duty if they have been adversely affected by this employment policy with full back pay and benefits.
Commenting on Justice Ryba’s ruling, SCOA President Patrick Cullen said, “From day one, we have argued that UCS, as our employer, is compelled by our collective bargaining agreement to negotiate with us any changes that impact the terms and conditions of our employment concerning issues that impact our health and safety. A unilateral vaccine mandate that has enormous health and safety implications directly flies in the face of our employment rights. We believe our members have a right to make their own decisions when it comes to their health and they should be afforded the right to make that choice when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine. Moving forward, we will continue to make that argument at our next court appearance on October 1st.”
SCOA represents approximately 1,400 New York State Supreme Court Officers who work across the five Boroughs of New York City and the 9th Judicial District.