Port Authority leaders warn of 'significant delays' with 500 unvaccinated employees facing discipline

Port Authority of Allegheny County officials on Friday warned of “significant delays and a large number of missed trips” as 500 employees face being placed on leave now that a judge has cleared the way for the authority’s vaccine mandate to continue.

Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman said moving forward with the mandate despite potential staff shortages is “the right thing to do.”

An Allegheny County judge ruled Thursday against the injunction sought by the union representing many Port Authority employees, saying the union failed to show that employees would suffer immediate and irreparable harm if the injunction wasn’t issued.

Port Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph said about 80% of the authority’s 2,700 employees are already vaccinated. All employees hired after October have been required to provide proof of vaccination, and officials have offered financial incentives to existing employees for nearly a year.

The mandate takes effect Tuesday, meaning 500 employees could be placed on leave with pay pending disciplinary hearings the following week.

If 500 employees are placed on leave, Brandolph said about 20% of the Port Authority’s scheduled services might have to be nixed for several weeks. He said it is impossible to guess where those service outages might happen day to day.

“Enforcing the vaccine requirement is the best way for us to keep our riders, employees and all our families safe,” Kelleman said.

Officials urged riders to consider alternate methods of transportation and to expect “significant delays and a large number of missed trips.”

Common Pleas Judge John McVay, who denied Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85’s request for a preliminary injunction, said if employees are terminated but ultimately prevail in legal challenges, they could be adequately compensated through money damages through the state Labor Relations Board and the grievance process.

Related:

• Judge rules against Port Authority union's vaccine mandate challenge

ATU Local 85 President Ross V. Nicotero said in a video message to members Thursday that the union will help members through the disciplinary process.

“Rest assured we will move through the process on whatever they deem as far as discipline,” he said. “All of our members will receive a fair and impartial hearing throughout every step of the process.”