OLYMPIA, Wash. (KOMO) — Hundreds of workers in Washington are losing their jobs after refusing Gov. Jay Inslee’s vaccination mandate with many saying they are leaving the state.
But the development has prompted questions from some over whether whether that means the workers are abandoning their communities and vows of public service.
“Out here you can see our couch,” said Joseph Stone, an Eastside fire fighter while showing the house that he is packing up in preparation for a move. “This is where we had a storage coat rack (and) things like that.”
Stone said he is preparing to move his wife and four young children away from Washington state because he refuses to get a COVID-19 vaccination shot and is losing his job as a result.
“Unfortunately, because our fire chief has taken this mandate and fully enforced it as well as Jay Inslee, I can’t find work in this state and so my family and I are being forced to move (and) move out of state,” he said. “Right now, we’re looking at Texas.”
The relocation is happening because for various reasons, whether medical or religious, Stone has refused to comply with the state's vaccination mandate and willing to leave.
He is not alone.
“If things got to the point where we couldn’t function and enjoy life here, we would probably consider moving out of state," said Seattle Fire Lt. Jeffery Vale, speaking for himself. "We’ve looked at Idaho and Montana, mostly because they’re close by and still mostly Northwest-ish.”
“We’re looking at Arkansas, actually,” said Tyler Miller, a federal military worker on subs who is refusing the U.S. Department of Defense vaccination mandate. “We’ve got some family on my wife’s side in that area.”
Miller helped organize anti-mandate rallies at the state Capitol, demonstrations that featured Eastside Fire Capt. Frank Dahlquist ,who is also speaking for himself.
“Unfortunately, my time in this state may be at an end," he said. "And we may be looking at moving out of state so I can continue the work that I love.”
He and the others contend that testing should be an option and they hope the governor will eventually allow it.
But Inslee has remained steadfast against the testing option.
“The answer is we’re going to go with science," the governor said when asked if he would ever consider that option while also noting that 97 percent of state employees are vaccinated.
Asked if he has regrets, Dalquist is firm.
“No, I don’t have any regrets," he said. "I’m standing on my principles as a Christian man.”
But Pope Francis and many church leaders have issued support and encouragement for people to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot.
Said Vale: “No regrets. I’m obviously sad to leave my crew whom I love. I’m sad for the stability that the job provided for me and my wife and seven kids. But, these were just moral convictions that I could not sacrifice.”
When asked if Dahlquist, a highly skilled worker in the public sector, could be accused of basically abandoning the community he has worked to serve and protect because of his refusal to get a vaccine shot, he re-framed the question.
"I don’t know what you mean by the word abandoning," he said. "But if anybody has been abandoned, it’s been the members of the fire service, law enforcement, DOT and other workers across the state.”
Stone said he would not consider getting the vaccine and returning to the job at some point.
“No. No," he said. "I’m not considering it at this point.”
As he and his family packed to leave Washington state, emotions surfaced.
“Our 3-year-old is kind of confused (but) our 5-year-old understands," Stone said about his daughter. "She just really wants to say goodbye to her friends and I think that’s the heart breaker of it.”
Although Inslee plans to stick by his vacation requirement with a testing option for state workers, fire fighters and educators, he said he is going to go along with the Biden Administration’s testing option for companies of 100 or more employees.
That directive is currently under court review.