NEW YORK — Multiple employees of the New York City Department of Education (DOE) were suspended starting Monday for allegedly submitting false vaccination cards, but the teachers’ union is threatening to sue to have their members return to payroll.
The DOE confirmed the suspensions on Friday, saying fewer than 100 employees had received unpaid leave.
“Fraudulent immunization cards are not only illegal, they also undermine the best line of protection our schools have against COVID-19: universal adult vaccination,” a department spokesperson said.
The United Federation of Teachers said in a statement Friday that the DOE had contacted about 70 of its members about the investigation, but it was unclear how many were suspended as a result.
The union has also demanded that the furloughed employees remain on the payroll and receive hearings while the investigation process continues.
“We are reviewing appropriate legal action to potentially challenge the DOE’s unilateral action to remove these employees from the payroll,” a spokesperson said.
Law enforcement agencies and the DOE’s special commissioner of investigation are also investigating the case.
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