Remember when unvaccinated city employees lost their jobs during the pandemic?

Although the city later lifted the vaccine mandate, reinstating some workers, others had to reapply for their positions.

However, in 2022, a New York state judge ordered the city to reinstate all fired workers.

That hasn't happened.

Daniel Hulkower never imagined working in sanitation, but once he started, he grew to love the job.

However, his enthusiasm couldn’t prevent him from being terminated for not complying with the city's vaccine mandate.

Hulkower was among over 1,700 city workers dismissed for refusing the vaccine during the pandemic.

Numerous employees, including Hulkower and 16 fellow sanitation workers, took their cases to court.

"The judge declared the entire mandate arbitrary and capricious," said Hulkower.

Following the judge’s decision, a New York state ruling mandated the city reinstate all terminated employees. Despite this, the city quickly appealed the ruling.

"Always an appeal, an appeal, an appeal. Why?" said Hulkower.

In May, a Staten Island resident questioned Mayor Eric Adams about the ongoing appeal.

"Why is New York City fighting thousands of us out of work?"

"...Let the independent body of the court system make that determination. That's where we are now," said Mayor Eric Adams.

"If he says he's going to wait for the courts, the courts already decided. So, what's he waiting for?" asked Hulkower.

The city's Law Department argues that they "couldn’t let an incorrect ruling about the city's fundamental health powers stand."

By 2023, some workers were eligible for reinstatement, while others were instructed to reapply.

Hulkower, however, has chosen to continue fighting rather than reapplying.

"I had a career. I had a partner at work. I had everything set up for me, and they just took it all," said Hulkower.