Members of the Vulcan Society of Black Firefighters have been fighting since 2007, accompanied by the Department of Justice, alleging that the New York City Fire Department's recruiting and hiring process systematically shut out black firefighters.
The settlement will provide back pay, including $6 million for lost medical benefits, to about 1,500 black and Hispanic former FDNY applicants and current firefighters, according to the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represented the Vulcans and the DOJ.
“We are pleased with the settlement, and we are optimistic that this represents a first step by the de Blasio administration to ensure that fair and equal hiring practices become the standard in the FDNY from this day forward,” said Vulcan Society President John Coombs.
