Going behind closed doors: New plan for Austin Fire Dept. hiring dispute

By Robert Maxwell

KXAN

For a third time in as many city council meetings, a proposed consent decree item to amend rules around hiring candidates for Austin’s Fire Department has been pulled from an upcoming agenda.

Agendas for Jan. 30 and Feb. 27 contained the item for council’s consideration and possible vote. And now, KXAN confirmed the consent decree will be nowhere on the public agenda for March 6.

Where it will be broached is in executive session March 6, much like any sensitive personnel or legal matter where privacy will allow more frank discussion and the avoidance of legal stumbles. The agenda item (#31) indicates city legal council will attend the executive session.

Read the full story here.

City of Austin indefinitely postpones vote on settlement with Justice Department over firefighter hiring

By Ciara O'Rourke
American-Statesman Staff

The city has indefinitely postponed voting on a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations that the Austin Fire Department’s hiring process in 2012 was discriminatory.

The Justice Department has not provided a final version of the proposed settlement, which is called a “consent decree,” and city officials don’t know when one will be available, according to a memo sent from City Attorney Karen Kennard to the mayor and council members Monday.

However, negotiations appear to be ongoing. The federal agency has arranged a Wednesday meeting with the city, the Austin Firefighters Association and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Kennard said in the memo. Former Travis County district judge Patrick Keel is expected to attend the meeting as a mediator.

Read the full story here.

Consent Decree Item Postponed on Council Agenda / Mediation Begins

We are pleased to share some new information with our community. 

We have just learned that the consent decree is NOT on the City Council agenda for Thursday March 6. 

Read more in this morning's AFA member email update.

Consent Decree Discussion Pulled from Council Agenda, Again

Austin City Council is now scheduled to discuss the item on March 6. It is now confirmed that AFA will enter mediation with the COA, DOJ and EEOC on March 5th. This mediation is non-binding and if an agreement is made during mediation, a full online vote of the AFA membership is required before it can be finalized. Unfortunately, until the mediation is complete AFA will not be able to make comment on the progress. AFA does promise, to the extent that we do not compromise our legal position if this issue ends up in federal court, a comprehensive education piece before the vote. 

For a review of the AFA process going forward please refer to the hiring practices facts document in the Press Room titled "DOJ Grievance Update to Austin Firefighters Association Membership - February 13, 2014".

AFD Hiring: Smoke or Fire?

AFD Hiring: Smoke or Fire?
Add the EEOC to the parties weighing in on firefighter hiring

By Jordan Smith, Austin Chronicle

The unfolding story of allegedly discriminatory hiring practices within the Austin Fire Depart­ment – already the subject of a possible consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice – took another turn Feb. 20, as the Austin Firefighters Association announced that it had been informed by the federal Equal Employ­ment Opportunity Com­mis­sion that the union is now being accused of playing a role in hiring discrimination.

Read the full story here.