JACKSONVILLE — The city of Jacksonville will pay $4.9 million as part of a settlement against the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters, Local 122, IAFF, alleging it practiced a promotion process that was discriminatory against African-Americans.
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), despite a discrimination charge against the union in 2008 by the federal agency, the union "advocated for an unlawful promotional process." In addition, a report by the city's Human Rights Commission recommended changes to the Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department's promotions process, the EEOC said.
"We are pleased that the union has agreed with the city's decision to make changes to the promotional process and provide relief to eligible African-American promotion candidates," EEOC district director Michael Farrell said in a statement. "The EEOC will continue to identify and fight promotional processes that operate as systemic barriers to employment based on legally protected characteristics."
According to the settlement, the city will offer "up to 40 settlement promotion positions for qualified African-Americans." In addition, Jacksonville will use the $4.9 million for a settlement fund for candidates who are eligible for promotion, the EEOC said.