DNAinfo Chicago published an article regarding some Chicago firefighters expressing concerns about a new city initiative aimed at improving hiring practices. Union firefighters are contemplating legal action against a city program that grants preferential treatment to graduates of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) during the hiring process. This move comes as Mayor Rahm Emanuel emphasizes a fresh recruitment drive for the fire department.
Emanuel's office highlighted the availability of an online application for the Fire Department, which is open until September 16th. Applicants must pay $30 to apply, with a written exam scheduled for December for eligible candidates. The job posting clearly outlines that individuals who have completed fire or police training, as well as relatives of those who died in the line of duty as police officers, firefighters, or military personnel, will receive preferential treatment for firefighter and police roles. Additionally, there is a hiring advantage for veterans and CPS high school graduates.
However, this preference for CPS graduates has sparked resistance among certain firefighters. Tom Ryan, president of the city's firefighter union, mentioned on Tuesday that union members are upset about this policy. They argue that, as taxpayers and citizens, everyone should be treated equally, regardless of where they went to school.
The Fire Department’s hiring announcement, released online last week, specifies that "The City of Chicago offers a CPS Graduate Preference to high school graduates from the Chicago Public School system." Emanuel has consistently promoted the benefits of the CPS graduate preference, encouraging students to stay in school.
Mayoral spokesperson Kelley Quinn stated that the hiring preference policy motivates CPS students to finish high school and prepares them for higher education and careers. Quinn referenced a city policy ensuring that at least 20% of candidates referred for positions involving CPS considerations are CPS graduates.
David Quintavalle, a member of the firefighter union's board, expressed his outrage on Facebook over the city's decision, suggesting that it disadvantages applicants educated in private institutions. He noted that the union is exploring potential litigation on behalf of its members' families, as many union members have chosen private schools for their children due to personal or religious reasons.
Ryan indicated that the union's opposition to the CPS preference isn't necessarily tied to the tradition of firefighters passing on their profession to their children. He emphasized that the matter remains open for discussion, with ample time before the December firefighter exam. Ryan pointed out that the city just announced the new round of Fire Department hiring exams last week, adding that "things could certainly change."
Quintavalle, however, warned that if the union does not pursue legal action to halt the CPS preference, union members might take matters into their own hands to address what they see as unfair discrimination. He argued that it is unjust to require members to live in the city, pay taxes that support the CPS system, and then send their children to CPS schools merely to gain an advantage in the firefighter exam. Quintavalle concluded that such policies amount to discrimination, and both the city and the union should reject this approach.
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