This is from an article in the Chicago Tribune about a lawsuit settlement between the Chicago Fire Department and more than 100 women:
About 138 women who were denied jobs with the Chicago Fire Department following a test seven years ago will have a chance to reapply to be a firefighter on Monday after reaching an agreement with the city in a federal class-action lawsuit.
The women were part of a group of 187 who had passed the written test in 2006 but were later denied jobs because they failed the department’s physical abilities test. Close to 50 of the original applicants no longer meet the eligibility requirements.
In 2011, Samantha Vasich, one of the rejected female candidates, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Chicago, alleging the test was unfair to women because it placed too much emphasis on strength rather than firefighting skills.
Last month, the city agreed to use the Candidate Physical Ability Test, a more accurate test developed by the International Association of Firefighters, to assess the rejected women candidates for the next two firefighter classes, said Marni Willenson, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs.
“It’s a vast improvement over what was there,” Willenson said.
Under the new agreement, women who were denied jobs and who pass the new test will be given first priority.
Those who are not granted jobs, no longer want to apply or are ineligible will share about $2 million in damages, said Willenson.
The entire article is HERE.
