Judge Bars NYC From Hiring New Firefighters
NEW YORK (AP) -- A federal judge has barred New York City from hiring new firefighters after criticizing its handling of a discrimination lawsuit against the fire department.
Judge Nicholas Garaufis said Tuesday his permanent injunction would be lifted if the city agreed to court-proposed hiring methods.
He's previously said the entrance exams were discriminatory and ordered the city to create a new test.
The city has said it wanted to hire new firefighters for safety reasons and to prevent overtime costs. In his ruling, Garaufis said the city now says it's thinking of eliminating existing firefighter jobs. He says its shifting positions have diverted the parties from developing a new exam.
The city's law department called the judge's statements unfair.
The lawsuit was filed in 2007 by the Vulcan Society, a black firefighters organization.
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