Employees protest vaccination orders
Updated: Friday, 02 Oct 2009, 6:48 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 02 Oct 2009, 6:48 PM EDT

ST. PETERSBURG - St. Petersburg General Hospital lab assistant Pat Putman has already received a seasonal flu vaccination and will also get the H1N1 flu shot when it is available.

But as a union representative, he has a problem with his employer.

"Being forced to (get vaccinated) or being told you have to wear a mask and if you refuse to wear the mask they'll consider termination is a bit strong for people's personal rights," Putman says.

That is why his union filed an unfair labor practice complaint against HCA, which owns St. Petersburg General and dozens of other facilities across Florida.

HCA district spokesperson Deb McKell could not comment on the grievance or the policy. But Putman says all HCA employees have until October 15 to get flu shots or mask up.

The union also argues a small percentage of workers have medical reasons to avoid vaccines.

"These people are not going to be able to take it, whether their facility wants them to or not because it would be detrimental to them." he says. "And they also would have to be required to wear the mask."

The union also contests stickers that are placed on the ID badges of those who do get vaccinated. That might violate strict federal prohibitions against disclosing personal medical information.