Massachusetts State Police must reinstate seven troopers who refused to be vaccinated for COVID-19, an independent arbitrator has ruled. The troopers have been on unpaid leave, but the arbitrator’s decision means they can return to work with retroactive pay if they choose, the Associated Press reports.
The union representing state troopers filed a grievance after the law enforcement officers were suspended following former Gov. Charlie Baker’s 2021 order requiring executive department employees to be vaccinated. Current Gov. Maura Healey lifted the vaccine mandate in May.
Massachusetts State Police are in the process of determining the “scope as well as the administrative and legal steps” needed to implement the arbitrator’s ruling, David Procopio, an agency spokesperson, said Sunday in an email.
