OLYMPIA, Wash. – Hundreds of people gathered at the state Capitol in Olympia to protest Gov. Jay Inslee’s vaccine mandate over the weekend.
Organizers of the rally Saturday warned that a large segment of state workers won’t get the vaccine.
Fire chiefs in Pierce County have sent Governor Inslee a letter warning that they expect to see shortages of personnel because of the mandate.
One chief says 70% of his crew isn’t vaccinated.
The mandate, which Inslee announced in early August, requires most state employees, healthcare workers and K-12 employees to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or face losing their jobs.
The Washington Federation of State Employees has sued to block the mandate, saying the state failed to bargain over the issue in good faith.