Attorney General Maura Healey upheld Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to require proof of vaccination for state workers in an appearance on Boston Public Radio Monday.
Baker’s announcement last week — requiring vaccination for all executive department employees — has already garnered threats of legal action from correctional officers and other groups.
“It’s the right move,” Healey said. “In terms of legality, it’s absolutely legal in my view.”
She noted that the mandate accommodates for reasonable medical and religious exemptions.
Healey, who imposed a vaccine mandate for her own staff earlier in August, said she did not anticipate any issues of enforcement, especially as news came in Monday that the FDA had fully approved the Pfizer vaccine.
"I just don’t expect there to be any issues with it, nor do I think it’s onerous," she said. "I realize we’ve been in somewhat unchartered territory during this pandemic. But at this point, the vaccine is out there, the FDA has approved it and that’s why I think we see not only government agencies but ... venues and businesses and employers just generally moving in the direction of taking the steps to require folks to be vaccinated."
Healey urged the public to call her office if they encounter any fake vaccination cards but said she does not have a sense of how prevalent that is in the state.
On a ballot initiative involving worker classification for gig workers like Uber and Lyft drivers
A Lyft driver called into the show during the segment to ask Healey whether she supports a ballot initiative involving gig workers.
The ballot question is being proposed by a coalition of app-based companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart. They say they would provide new benefits like setting a minimum wage guarantee and paid sick time, but maintain workers status as independent contractors.
Healey said she could not comment on specifics of the ballot question because it — like all other ballot initiatives — goes through her office for certification based on whether it complies with state law.
Healey has previously sued Uber and Lyft, claiming their classification of workers as independent contractors violates state wage laws.
"We're in court seeking a ruling that Uber and Lyft need to classify their drivers as employees under Massachusetts wage and hour laws so they have access to rights and benefits like minimum wage and overtime and earned sick time," she said. "That has nothing to do with a ballot initiative and that process, which is separately handled from my office. And personal policy views of myself or anyone in my office play absolutely no role in the certification decision."
