The members of Rowan AFT Local 2373 approved a mandate on Sept. 10 regarding masks, the COVID-19 vaccine and social distancing. Rowan AFT requires all members to: get vaccinated against COVID-19, wear masks indoors and practice social distancing in large outdoor crowds. This mandate will last for the foreseeable future.
The mandate passed by 86 percent of the vote of members present in person and on WebEx at the first General Meeting of Fall 2021. The mask, vaccine and social distancing requirements follow CDC guidelines.
This Rowan AFT mandate on COVID-19 vaccines is supplanted by the Executive Order of NJ Gov. Phil Murphy. Rowan AFT 2373 is a local organization and must follow all directives from the state government.
Murphy signed Executive Order 253 on Aug. 23, which requires all state workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they file a religious or medical exemption. According to the order, workers must comply by Oct. 18.
Here is a link to the Executive Order:
https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-253.pdf
On Sept. 15, AFT and Rowan’s HR Department signed a Memorandum of Agreement: Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Impact. The agreement requires the COVID-19 vaccination of AFT Local 2373 members by Oct. 18. Exemption requests for medical or religious reasons were due to HR on Oct. 1. This agreement is also in line with the governor’s Executive Order, since state law supersedes local agreements.
Here is a link to the Memo of Agreement for Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Impact:
https://sites.rowan.edu/hr/_docs/aft_covid_vaccination_requirement_policy.pdf