New Bedford City Workers Protesting Vaccine Mandate

NEW BEDFORD — Protests outside City Hall are continuing for the third day after New Bedford's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city employees took effect Monday.

A group of around 30 municipal workers are demonstrating against the vaccine requirements, which were announced in August.

According to the requirements, city staffers must show proof of vaccination or undergo weekly COVID testing.

This marks the third day of action by the group of New Bedford employees.

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Earlier this week employees at the city's Department of Public Infrastructure staged a protest in which nearly a third of the department's workforce called out of work.

The staffers said they are also protesting their local AFCSME union, which agreed to the mandate.

A spokesperson for the mayor's office declined to comment on the protest, while a union spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

David Nieves told Fun107's Michael Rock that even though he and some of the other workers are fully vaccinated, they're still protesting the mandate on principle.

"In America we've gotta stand up for our rights, and we're just standing out," Nieves said. "We're just trying to stand up for what we feel is right."

"It's our body, it should be our choice what we want to do with it," said Jordan Raposo. "We shouldn't be forced."