Man says he was fired from Bronx-based catering company for refusing vaccine

A former employee of a Bronx company is suing after saying he was fired for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

For over a year, Antonio Coronado has said he was a dedicated employee of Mott Haven-based catering company Great Performances. It ended on May 26.

“They emailed me, ‘You can’t work for us anymore because you didn’t have the vaccine,'” he says.

The 35-year-old says he refused to be vaccinated for personal and religious beliefs as a Pentecostal.

“The body is perfect. God has made us perfect and we shouldn’t change our body in any way,” Coronado said.

He hired attorney David Schwartz, who filed a lawsuit against the Bronx company.

“This is probably the first such case filed in New York. It violates New York State law, New York City law. There is no vaccine warrant,” he said. Schwartz said.

Great Performances responded in a statement, stating in part, “We are engaging in a cooperative dialogue with employees who request reasonable accommodation based on disability or sincere religious belief. It is the policy of Great Performances to refrain from any further comment to the media. on pending litigation.

The company denies breaking the laws.

Coronado was willing to be regularly tested for COVID-19 and wear a mask, but said the employer disagreed with this.

Schwartz says Coronado was not the only employee who was affected.

“It was very important to set a precedent and since then other employees of this company have contacted us and we will speak to them as well,” said Schwartz.

Coronado says he is not looking for a new job while he continues the trial.