NYC police union sues city to block vaccine mandate

The largest police union in New York City filed a lawsuit Monday in an effort to block the city's vaccine mandate from taking effect.

According to VOA News, the Police Benevolent Association's lawsuit seeks to have the State Supreme Court block Mayor Bill de Blasio's vaccine mandate because it doesn't offer weekly testing as an alternative to getting the vaccine.

The union's move comes as the deadline to provide proof of vaccination approaches.

Last week, de Blasio announced that city workers had until Nov. 1 to get at least one shot, or potentially face termination. 

According to the mandate, workers will first be placed on administrative leave until a final decision concerning termination is made.

NYPD's legal division is in support of the Mayor's order, saying in a statement that the mandate is "lawful" and helps to keep New Yorkers safe.

"Every effort to stop the City's vaccine mandates has failed in court, and we believe this suit by the PBA will meet the same fate," the department wrote. 

Until the lawsuit can be reviewed by the State Supreme Court, PBA filed a motion to have a State Island judge issue a temporary injunction pending the outcome of the litigation.

So far at least 70% of the city's 160,000 employees have provided proof of vaccination.