NEW YORK — The FDNY firefighters union said it is considering a new lawsuit against the city of New York over its vaccine mandate.

What You Need To Know

  • Union leaders say they are considering a civil rights lawsuit against the city over its new vaccine mandate requirements

  • They say it's unfair that athletes and performers are the only professions exempt from the rule 

  • Mayor Adams announced last week that athletes and performers in the city did not need to be vaccinated to do their jobs

  • He says it's a way to balance the playing field since performers visiting the city did not need to be vaccinated

This time, they're looking at a civil rights lawsuit. Leaders said it's because of Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to drop the public and private employee vaccine requirement for only athletes and performers.

New York City mandates all other public and private employees get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Mayor Eric Adams changed the rule for athletes and performers last week.

“Hometown players had an unfair disadvantage to those who were coming to visit," Adams said outside Citi Field when he made the decision.

Performers and athletes visiting New York City could still do their jobs regardless of their vaccination status. The mayor argues this change applies to a small group of people to equal the playing field for performers.

Union leaders said this creates a double standard.

"Have the same rules for everybody. Heroes and athletes alike," said Andrew Ansbro, the president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

About 1,400 city employees have been fired since the requirement took effect.

Jairo Sosa is part of NYFD. He refused to get his COVID-19 vaccine and faces termination next week after an appeal for an exemption failed. He has decided to quit unless the mandate changes soon.

“All I ask of the mayor is let us work," he said. "Be fair to us."

In 2021, Sosa received a medal from FDNY after he saved a girl from a burning building the year before.

“I’m very thankful I was able to save a little girl a year and a half ago and there’s been many other fires where I could save other people," said Sosa. "Drag people out of dangerous situations. None of them ever asked us what our status was.”

Data shows 95% of FDNY members have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.