80K NYC Public Workers Return To Offices Amid Lingering Fears

NEW YORK CITY — Roughly 80,000 municipal office workers returned to New York City government offices Monday for the first time in more than a year.

"Today is one of those turning point moments, another example of New York City coming back strong as the rest of our City workforce has been working remotely starts to come back to the offices," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

But shortly before de Blasio buzzed about how City Hall was "abuzz," a prominent union leader aimed to abate the celebration.

Only 34 percent of District 37's AFSCME workforce is vaccinated, Henry Garrido, the union's executive director, said in a statement.

"The city should focus on bringing that number up before bringing everyone back to work gradually," Garrido said. “Second, the inconsistency across the agencies tells you everything you need to know. Some agencies are bringing everyone back every day, others once a week. It does not make sense and makes clear everyone is guessing."

De Blasio, when asked during his daily briefing, said he respected Garrido and AFSCME workers.

But he maintained the city's approach to reopening its own offices is "unified." The plan can read by everyone at nyc.gov/returntooffice, he said.