By Tyler Clifford and Dan Whitcomb

New York City firefighters who have risked their own health to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic felt “insulted” by de Blasio’s order to get the shot or face suspension, said Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association.

“I have told my members that if they choose to remain unvaccinated, they must still report for duty,” Ansbro told a news conference. “If they are told they cannot work, it will be the department and city of New York that sends them home. And it will be the department and the city of New York that has failed to protect the citizens of New York,” Ansbro said.

The union represents firefighters, fire marshals and other fire department members.

Last week de Blasio gave some 50,000 employees of New York City a deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Those who fail to show proof could be sent home without pay.

De Blasio could not be reached for comment by Reuters on Wednesday.

Police and firefighters joined thousands of protesters against the mandates who marched across the Brooklyn Bridge earlier this week to demonstrate their opposition to the move.

A New York State judge on Wednesday denied a police union request to temporarily block the mandate.

The Police Benevolent Association, which filed a lawsuit against the vaccine mandate on Monday, said on Twitter that the union would appeal Wednesday’s decision by the state Supreme Court judge.

“Today’s ruling sets the city up for a real crisis,” Patrick Lynch, the president of the police union, said late on Wednesday.

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has about 17,000 employees, including emergency medical services staff, firefighters and civilian employees. About 68% of them have been vaccinated, according to the department.

Based on current vaccination rates and the threat of unpaid leave, the city could see up to 20% of fire units close and fewer ambulances on the road, the department said.

The FDNY said it plans to mitigate staffing shortages by enforcing mandatory overtime, canceling vacations and reassigning employees to other roles. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb, Tyler Clifford and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Peter Cooney and Christopher Cushing)