New York City has lost its bid for a Temporary Restraining Order that would have allowed the city to suspend without a hearing more than 80 teachers who have been accused — but not found guilty — of falsifying their COVID vaccination status.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arlene P. Bluth on Friday, July 8, 2022 ruled against a request by New York City and the Department of Education for the TRO.

The case concerns 82 UFT members who were placed on unpaid leave based on unproven allegations that their vaccination records were fraudulent.

The UFT argued that these employees could not be disciplined without due process. An arbitrator ruled last week that the UFT was right, saying that nothing in the original arbitration award that set up the unpaid leave process “was intended to abrogate any due process rights.”

The city’s request for a temporary restraining order would in effect have suspended the arbitration decision.

A further hearing on the city’s petition is set for July 19 before Judge Bluth.