A substantial settlement of $29.1 million was secured on Thursday by a group of predominantly minority fire inspectors from the FDNY, culminating a class action lawsuit that contended racial bias in their compensation compared to other municipal entities.
Oren Barzilay, the president of EMT Local 2507, stated, “Our fire inspectors safeguard the lives and assets of New Yorkers daily, and this settlement offers an opportunity to provide restitution while also granting recognition to the life-preserving efforts of those who have been adversely affected by the city’s payment practices.”
He added, “It is our hope that these judgments will pave the way for other laborers to regain equitable remuneration in the times ahead.”
The resolution in this federal case will allocate a sum ranging from $30,000 to $35,000 to each participating worker following the deduction of legal charges and ancillary costs from the compensation pool. The litigants alleged a yearly wage disparity of $9,000 when contrasted with counterparts in the city’s Buildings Department performing analogous duties.
A statement from the city Law Department conveyed, “New York City stands as a realm of balanced prospects, and we disavow and censure all forms of discrimination within our workforce. This settlement brings closure to a longstanding case by delivering a solution that mutually serves the best interests of both parties.”
As per the lawsuit, over 70% of the union inspectors, comprising a cohort exceeding 400, identify as individuals of color, whereas their better-remunerated counterparts in building inspections encompassed about 50% who were white.
The legal documentation further noted that the inspectors belonging to the union were subjected to more perilous work conditions in comparison to the higher-paid building inspectors. Their responsibilities included the issuance of criminal summonses and court appearance citations.
Originally initiated by five FDNY inspectors, the lawsuit was expanded in 2019 by Analisa Torres, a federal judge in Manhattan. This expansion permitted the inclusion of other members within the class action.
Judge Torres observed that the roles within the two agencies were so analogous that city officials had contemplated merging the two operations on two separate occasions. She highlighted that employees in these municipal departments “undertake comparable tasks, and their jobs necessitate similar knowledge, skills, and capabilities.”
The post $29 Million Awarded In FDNY Racial Bias Lawsuit appeared first on Watch This NYC.
