9 March 2012 — Center for Constitutional Rights

CCR Breaking News: Court Rules FDNY Liable for Up to $128 Million in Back Pay

CCR is thrilled to announce that U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis has ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in United States of America and Vulcan Society, Inc., v. City of New York.  The federal class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Vulcan Society, the fraternal organization of Black firefighters, and three individual African-American firefighter applicants charging the <strong class=’StrictlyAutoTagBold’>New York City Fire Department (FDNY) with racially discriminatory hiring practices. The ruling found the City of New York liable for wage losses of $128,696,803. Furthermore, Judge Garaufis ordered the FDNY to hire 186 Black firefighters and 107 Latino firefighters from among the Black and Latino applicants who took either the 1999 and/or 2002 <strong class=’StrictlyAutoTagBold’>New York City firefighter exams, both of which were found to be racially discriminatory and illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

<strong class=’StrictlyAutoTagBold’>CCR has challenged the fundamental inequality of the hiring and recruiting process of the FDNY for several years, and we have consistently advocated for the social and economic rights of people of color in a system that has long denied them a livable wage and equal opportunity. We congratulate the Vulcans on this momentous and well-deserved victory. Please join us in celebrating this critical step forward for justice. For more information visit our case page and press release.

We thank you for your continued support of <strong class=’StrictlyAutoTagBold’>CCR’s work and share in this victory with you.