Tyrone N. Butts
APE Reporter
Daley, black firefighters hold talks
The Daley administration and would-be black firefighters will make a last stab this week at settling their dispute over a 1995 entrance exam to head off a court ruling that could exacerbate Chicago's burgeoning budget crisis.
Calling a January civil trial "lopsided" and the outcome a "foregone conclusion," attorneys representing African-American candidates are demanding 132 firefighter jobs, $19 million in damages and millions more in legal fees to settle a case that has dragged on in the courts for six years.
If settlem
nt talks break down and the federal judge who presided over the trial rules against the city, the tab could go as high as $80 million. It all depends on whether candidates who claim to have been bypass
ed by the city's handling of the 1995 exam get hired or simply are compen
sated with 81/2 years of back pay.
"The liability is so clear, the outcome such a foregone conclusion, it would be foolish of the city not to make a good-faith effort to settle. In that sense, I'm optimistic," said Matt Piers, the former deputy corporation counsel now representing black firefighters.
But he warned, "We're never going to agree to a damage-free settlement. Nineteen million dollars is on the table. It's going to take something approaching that figure plus jobs and fees. So far, the city has refused to come up with any money -- other than attorney's fees. If that's still their position, we have nothing to talk about. The judge will rule and we'll march forward toward
a damage proceeding, assuming we prevail."
Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle refused to comment on Thursday's negotiating session, except to say the Daley administration was &qu
ot;still reviewing their most recent settlement demand."
Another City Hall source described the $19 million demand as
"excessive." While it's a "good sign" the two sides are talking, the source said, "we're still far apart in terms of money."
Drafted by an African-American with an eye toward diversifying the Fire Department, the 1995 entrance exam drew more than 26,000 applicants. When the results for minorities were disappointing, the city established a cut-off score of 89 and started hiring randomly from the top 1,800 "well-qualified" candidates.
The plaintiffs contend that had the effect of perpetuating the predominantly white status quo in the Chicago Fire Depar
tment since 78 percent of those "well-qualified" candidates were white. Not until the fall of 2002 did the city start hiring randomly from among the 20,200 candidates deemed
"qualified" with scores of 65 and above.
Earlier this year, Mayor Daley expressed no interest in settling the case. In fact, he accused minority aldermen of cavorting with the enemy for meeting secretly with Piers, ad
monishing them to remember who signs their paychecks.
*************
This just goes to show that you can't do enough for negroes.
T.N.B.
The Daley administration and would-be black firefighters will make a last stab this week at settling their dispute over a 1995 entrance exam to head off a court ruling that could exacerbate Chicago's burgeoning budget crisis.
Calling a January civil trial "lopsided" and the outcome a "foregone conclusion," attorneys representing African-American candidates are demanding 132 firefighter jobs, $19 million in damages and millions more in legal fees to settle a case that has dragged on in the courts for six years.
If settlem
nt talks break down and the federal judge who presided over the trial rules against the city, the tab could go as high as $80 million. It all depends on whether candidates who claim to have been bypass
ed by the city's handling of the 1995 exam get hired or simply are compen
sated with 81/2 years of back pay.
"The liability is so clear, the outcome such a foregone conclusion, it would be foolish of the city not to make a good-faith effort to settle. In that sense, I'm optimistic," said Matt Piers, the former deputy corporation counsel now representing black firefighters.
But he warned, "We're never going to agree to a damage-free settlement. Nineteen million dollars is on the table. It's going to take something approaching that figure plus jobs and fees. So far, the city has refused to come up with any money -- other than attorney's fees. If that's still their position, we have nothing to talk about. The judge will rule and we'll march forward toward
a damage proceeding, assuming we prevail."
Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle refused to comment on Thursday's negotiating session, except to say the Daley administration was &qu
ot;still reviewing their most recent settlement demand."
Another City Hall source described the $19 million demand as
"excessive." While it's a "good sign" the two sides are talking, the source said, "we're still far apart in terms of money."
Drafted by an African-American with an eye toward diversifying the Fire Department, the 1995 entrance exam drew more than 26,000 applicants. When the results for minorities were disappointing, the city established a cut-off score of 89 and started hiring randomly from the top 1,800 "well-qualified" candidates.
The plaintiffs contend that had the effect of perpetuating the predominantly white status quo in the Chicago Fire Depar
tment since 78 percent of those "well-qualified" candidates were white. Not until the fall of 2002 did the city start hiring randomly from among the 20,200 candidates deemed
"qualified" with scores of 65 and above.
Earlier this year, Mayor Daley expressed no interest in settling the case. In fact, he accused minority aldermen of cavorting with the enemy for meeting secretly with Piers, ad
monishing them to remember who signs their paychecks.
*************
This just goes to show that you can't do enough for negroes.
T.N.B.