A local union filed an injunction Tuesday in an attempt to prevent officials at the UI Hospitals and Clinics from mandating flu shots for its employees.
Representatives of the Service Employees International Union Local 199 claim there are numerous effective methods for controlling the spread of the seasonal flu besides requiring vaccinations.
Last week, UI officials announced a mandatory vaccination program for all faculty, staff, students, and volunteers at UI Health Care. Vaccinations against the seasonal flu will begin Sept. 25 and continue through Oct. 16.
UI spokesman Tom Moore said officials could not discuss pending litigation.
Education for all workers is vital to keeping both patients and employees safe, said Cathy Glasson, a registered nurse and president of the union. But she said she hadn’t heard about any educational programs at the UIHC.
“We are not opposed to vaccines,” she said. “But we believe there are better ways to achieve the same success rates.”
Education programs can result in a vaccination rate of up to 90 percent, she said. The goal is to teach people what the flu is, how it’s spread, and how the vaccine works. Employees should also be given ample opportunity to ask questions.
That’s not happening at the UI, the injunction asserts.
A month ago, union representatives prepared and sent a comprehensive proposal that largely mirrors national recommendations to UIHC officials regarding what should be done to protect workers and patients, Glasson said. However, the union has yet to hear back from hospital officials.
“We want the hospital to stop, take a look at what it’s doing, and look at the impact of asking employees to do this,” said Glasson, who had more than 20 years of experience as a nurse at UIHC.
The biggest issue, she said, is the program violates a contractual agreement because hospital officials implemented the program without negotiating with union representatives.
National medical agencies haven’t recommended mandatory vaccination programs. But hospital officials asserted the program would protect the safety of patients, employees and visitors.
Moore said officials will continue their plan to immunize all those associated with UI Health Care. And some health-care workers have said they support the effort.
“We have an obligation to protect our patients, visitors, colleagues, and loved ones from this serious disease,” Moore said. “As Iowa’s only comprehensive academic medical center, we take this responsibility very seriously.”