History

PROGRESSIVE FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON DC
FACT SHEET
1928 - 1940 Brightwood Citizen's Association seek Women's District Fire Company (1928). Reappointed firemen to receive salary commensurate with the length of Time of previous service (1932) D.C. Supreme Court ruling relates to Marvin K. Hammon, not give credit for 17 years of service, required to take entry level pay. 1942 - 1945 Jim Crow Fire Department is Costly (1942) First all Negro D.C. Fire Unit 1919 to 1944 Anniversary (1944). Department refuses to use 11 Negro firemen despite manpower shortage during war (1944). Extension of Segregation protested, integration urged (1945). 1948 - 1949 Federation of Civic Association, Inc. fights segregation in D.C. Fire department (1948). Local 36 seeks retention of segregation of Fire Department (1948). District NAACP seeks integration in Fire Department (1948). 1954 - 1958 No integration, suit filed with the U.S. Civil Service Commission to secure promotion to Captain (1951). Chief Mayhew tries to integrate (1951). Commissioners plan to integrate some Negro firemen (1951). Local 36 votes 664 to 35 to continue segregation (1952). Local 36 protests led to cancellation of transfers of some Negro firemen to white companies (1952). D.C. Commissioner Donohue's plea for integration fails (1952). Firemen will integrate gradually (1954). Local 36 fights to keep system that results in written exam being determining factor in ratings for promotions (1954). House Subcommittee holds hearings on bill to reestablish segregation in D.C. Fire Department (1955). Representative Powell D-N.Y. calls for end of Fire Department Racial Hearings (1955). 1965 - 1967 Only 3 Negro employees hired in 1965, lowest percentage of Negroes of any major D.C. agency (1965). 1968 - 1969 Public Safety Director finds racial discrimination in Fire Department (1968). Fire Department ends segregated beds and equipment assignments (1968). Murphy freezes promotions above captain pending probe of segregation practices (1968). Fire Cadet Program weighed (1968). Black firemen quit Local 36 charging union bias (1969). Local 36 is the Fire Department; every member of the department is eligible for membership (1969). Local 36 seek exclusive bargaining contract with the city (1969) 1970 - 1971 Local 36 gets exclusive bargaining rights (1970); for one year to force reform of Local 36. District Court ruling clears path for the city to complete the integration of the Fire Department (1970). Fire Department torn by race charges and muted threats of violence (1971). First Black Deputy Fire Chief (1971). Racism found in Fire Department, Local 36 resists equal employment opportunity (1971). 1972 - 1979 Blacks charge discrimination in Fire Department (1972), request that exclusive recognition of Local 36 be withdrawn. Black firemen ask support of public (1972). Black Fireman appointed Chief (1973). D.C. Firehouses demonstrate trend toward resegregation (1974). Blacks in Fire Prevention Division charge Discrimination (1974). First woman fire fighter hired (1978). D.C. probe of cheating allegation against blacks (1979); No irregularities found despite Local 36's charges. 1980 - 1982 Since 1978, no more than six (6) blacks among forty (40) top firefighting positions (1980). Barry promotes 28 top officials in Fire Department: 23 Whites, 5 Blacks. Of 115 additional promotions, 21% were Black (24 Blacks, 91 Whites) (1980). Fire Chief missing; then quits (1981). Local 36 threatens legal action against city if OHR orders more hiring and promotions of Blacks to redress discrimination in the Fire Department (1981). City told to develop an Affirmative Action plan to remain in effect until "traditional patterns or racial segregation" in the Fire Department are eliminated (1981). Rep. Stan Parris (R-Va.) asked Justice Department to review legality of OHR Order (1981). Intimidation and racial hatred exhibited by whites to OHR Order (1981). City hires before discrimination hearing findings are made (1982). 1984 May 23: Hammon case settled and dismissed by Consent Decree with D.C. 1985 March 8-12: Department of Justice and Local 36 (Byrne Plaintiffs) file suits on behalf of "white firefighters" against District of Columbia to bar hiring or promotions under the DCFD Affirmative Action Plan. Five (5) Black Sergeants demoted. D.C. violates Consent Decree. (Cases consolidated with Hammon case). March 28: Black Firefighter receives death threats. April: U.S. District Court finds DCFD selection practices and procedures for entry-level positions to be discriminatory against Blacks. On undisputed facts stipulated by D.C., Local 36 and Hammon parties, court finds the existence of history of segregation in DCFD, present racial hierarchy in salary and officer ranks. Uses of discriminatory hiring tests were stayed. Mayor Barry appeals U.S. District Court Order; Hammon Plaintiffs motion to dismiss Barry's appeal granted by the U.S. Court of Appeals. April 25: Firefighter hiring ban seen threat to public safety. May 30: U.S. Department of Justice appeals ruling of D.C. Fire Fighters. October: D.C. expert says promotion exams not job related; selects persons who may do better at Trivial Pursuit than at the job. Nov. 13: 25 White firemen sue D.C. for racial bias. Nov. 25: White Firemen win promotion, 5-drop D.C. bias charge in Out-of-Court Settlement. 1986 February 3: City to pay $100,000 to white fireman in lawsuit settlement for back pay and retirement benefits for reverse discrimination. February 6: D.C. Fire Promotions delayed because of litigation over affirmative action. No new exam schedule. June 23: Firefighters lawsuit closer to resolution: All parties submit joint stipulation, approved by court, which named a three member panel to draft a "lawful, job-related, valid selection procedure" for promotions to be completed later this year. October: Hammon plaintiffs initiate settlement discussions with D.C. October 14: Mayor Barry accused of stalling and his inaction is blocking efforts to resolve lawsuit says Progressive Fire Fighters Association. Black Firefighters demonstrate outside District Building. 1987 January 9: Hammon plaintiffs amend lawsuit, add charges of violation of Constitution for continuing effects of segregation. Feb. 27: U.S. Court of Appeals in divided opinion throws out D.C.'s 1985 Affirmative Action Plan. March 25: Supreme Court rulings mad aid D.C. Fire Department's hiring plan supporting Affirmative Action. April 20: Supporters say criticisms by Local 36 of Chief Coleman unjustified. April 21: New Job Plan ordered for firefighters, D.C. gets 30-day deadline. April 22: D.C. ordered to answer Hammon Complaint. May 7: Fire Chief admits race lies at root of problems in DCFD. June 26: D.C. files new Affirmative Action Plan, admits discrimination vs. Blacks. Nov. 23: D.C. Fire, Police hiring plans back in U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Affirmative Action Cases to be reheard. D.C. settles Police hiring Plan, foils rehearing of Fire Department case. 1988 January 7: Four white captains win promotions to battalion chief under settlement with city and their attorneys receive $150,000 in fees. Feb. 26: Fire Department overtime costs soar: $80 million total in 5 years reported. Costs result from "manning formulas" and racial discrimination lawsuit. March: D.C. appeal firefighter case to U.S. Supreme Court. May 6: Hammon plaintiffs files brief in supreme Court stating case does merit review on grounds of lack of standing of Justice Department and Local 36. June 1: High Court snubs D.C. hiring plan, U.S. Supreme Court declined yesterday to review decision of U.S. Court of Appeals. 1989 March 1: Hammon plaintiffs submit comprehensive settlement proposal to Mayor Barry and D.C. officials. April 19: Explosive situation led to slayings by firefighter: Tippett said Parson is only one who has reached boiling point over lack of promotions. June: Progressive Fire Fighters Associations pickets Corporation Counsel's Office, South African Branch, for racist handling of Hammon case. July-Aug.: Settlement talks go forward, issues resolved, papers ready for signatures, Corporation Counsel Cooke resigns. August: Corporation Counsel Reid tells Hammon plaintiffs to settle suit with Local 36 first. October 2: Joint Hammon/Byrne Settlement Proposal submitted to Corporation Counsel Reid. D.C. expresses shock at Hammon/Local 36 settlement. Nov. 1: Final draft Consent Decree submitted to Corporation Counsel for signatures. Dec. 19: Joint Hammon/Byrne letter to Corporation Counsel Valentine to schedule meeting of all parties to continue to work on settlement. Valentine attempting to abort. 1990 January 26: Joint meeting of parties, Corporation Counsel agrees to settle Hammon case, continue to work on settlement of joint Hammon/Byrne settlement January 29: Court status call, Corporation Counsel switches agreed to Consent Decree, Judge suggest redraft. February 1: D.C. and Hammon redraft agreement, include Local settlement on promotions. March 22: Mayor authorizes settlement figure. Consent Decree agreed upon. March 26: Deputy Corporation Counsel tries to present new, nonnegotiated Consent Decree. April 6: Court Status call, Corporation Counsel Reid and Grossman say no agreement exists. Judge refers case to Special Master. D.C., Hammon, Local 36 to each pay 1/3 costs. April 9: Local 36 files Position Statement with the court: Agrees to match money Hammon pays for Master for 4 month period and seeks to file motion to dismiss Hammon case.

1928 - 1940
Brightwood Citizen's Association seek Women's District Fire Company (1928).
Reappointed firemen to receive salary commensurate with the length of Time of previous service (1932) D.C. Supreme Court ruling relates to Marvin K. Hammon, not give credit for 17 years of service, required to take entry level pay.

1942 - 1945
Jim Crow Fire Department is Costly (1942)
First all Negro D.C. Fire Unit 1919 to 1944 Anniversary (1944).
Department refuses to use 11 Negro firemen despite manpower shortage during war (1944).
Extension of Segregation protested, integration urged (1945).

1948 - 1949
Federation of Civic Association, Inc. fights segregation in D.C. Fire department (1948).
Local 36 seeks retention of segregation of Fire Department (1948).
District NAACP seeks integration in Fire Department (1948).

1954 - 1958
No integration, suit filed with the U.S. Civil Service Commission to secure promotion to Captain (1951).
Chief Mayhew tries to integrate (1951).
Commissioners plan to integrate some Negro firemen (1951).
Local 36 votes 664 to 35 to continue segregation (1952).
Local 36 protests led to cancellation of transfers of some Negro firemen to white companies (1952).
D.C. Commissioner Donohue's plea for integration fails (1952).
Firemen will integrate gradually (1954).
Local 36 fights to keep system that results in written exam being determining factor in ratings for promotions (1954).
House Subcommittee holds hearings on bill to reestablish segregation in D.C. Fire Department (1955).
Representative Powell D-N.Y. calls for end of Fire Department Racial Hearings (1955).

1965 - 1967
Only 3 Negro employees hired in 1965, lowest percentage of Negroes of any major D.C. agency (1965).

1968 - 1969
Public Safety Director finds racial discrimination in Fire Department (1968).
Fire Department ends segregated beds and equipment assignments (1968).
Murphy freezes promotions above captain pending probe of segregation practices (1968).
Fire Cadet Program weighed (1968).
Black firemen quit Local 36 charging union bias (1969).
Local 36 is the Fire Department; every member of the department is eligible for membership (1969).
Local 36 seek exclusive bargaining contract with the city (1969)

1970 - 1971
Local 36 gets exclusive bargaining rights (1970); for one year to force reform of Local 36.
District Court ruling clears path for the city to complete the integration of the Fire Department (1970).
Fire Department torn by race charges and muted threats of violence (1971).
First Black Deputy Fire Chief (1971).
Racism found in Fire Department, Local 36 resists equal employment opportunity (1971).

1972 - 1979
Blacks charge discrimination in Fire Department (1972), request that exclusive recognition of Local 36 be withdrawn.
Black firemen ask support of public (1972).
Black Fireman appointed Chief (1973).
D.C. Firehouses demonstrate trend toward resegregation (1974).
Blacks in Fire Prevention Division charge Discrimination (1974).
First woman fire fighter hired (1978).
D.C. probe of cheating allegation against blacks (1979); No irregularities found despite Local 36's charges.

1980 - 1982
Since 1978, no more than six (6) blacks among forty (40) top firefighting positions (1980).
Barry promotes 28 top officials in Fire Department: 23 Whites, 5 Blacks. Of 115 additional promotions, 21% were Black (24 Blacks, 91 Whites) (1980).
Fire Chief missing; then quits (1981).
Local 36 threatens legal action against city if OHR orders more hiring and promotions of Blacks to redress discrimination in the Fire Department (1981).
City told to develop an Affirmative Action plan to remain in effect until "traditional patterns or racial segregation" in the Fire Department are eliminated (1981).
Rep. Stan Parris (R-Va.) asked Justice Department to review legality of OHR Order (1981).
Intimidation and racial hatred exhibited by whites to OHR Order (1981).
City hires before discrimination hearing findings are made (1982).

1984
May 23: Hammon case settled and dismissed by Consent Decree with D.C.

1985
March 8-12: Department of Justice and Local 36 (Byrne Plaintiffs) file suits on behalf of "white firefighters" against District of Columbia to bar hiring or promotions under the DCFD Affirmative Action Plan. Five (5) Black Sergeants demoted. D.C. violates Consent Decree. (Cases consolidated with Hammon case).

March 28: Black Firefighter receives death threats.

April: U.S. District Court finds DCFD selection practices and procedures for entry-level positions to be discriminatory against Blacks. On undisputed facts stipulated by D.C., Local 36 and Hammon parties, court finds the existence of history of segregation in DCFD, present racial hierarchy in salary and officer ranks. Uses of discriminatory hiring tests were stayed. Mayor Barry appeals U.S. District Court Order; Hammon Plaintiffs motion to dismiss Barry's appeal granted by the U.S. Court of Appeals.

April 25: Firefighter hiring ban seen threat to public safety.

May 30: U.S. Department of Justice appeals ruling of D.C. Fire Fighters.

October: D.C. expert says promotion exams not job related; selects persons who may do better at Trivial Pursuit than at the job.

Nov. 13: 25 White firemen sue D.C. for racial bias.

Nov. 25: White Firemen win promotion, 5-drop D.C. bias charge in Out-of-Court Settlement.

1986

February 3: City to pay $100,000 to white fireman in lawsuit settlement for back pay and retirement benefits for reverse discrimination.
February 6: D.C. Fire Promotions delayed because of litigation over affirmative action. No new exam schedule.
June 23: Firefighters lawsuit closer to resolution: All parties submit joint stipulation, approved by court, which named a three member panel to draft a "lawful, job-related, valid selection procedure" for promotions to be completed later this year.
October: Hammon plaintiffs initiate settlement discussions with D.C.
October 14: Mayor Barry accused of stalling and his inaction is blocking efforts to resolve lawsuit says Progressive Fire Fighters Association. Black Firefighters demonstrate outside District Building.

1987

January 9: Hammon plaintiffs amend lawsuit, add charges of violation of Constitution for continuing effects of segregation.
Feb. 27: U.S. Court of Appeals in divided opinion throws out D.C.'s 1985 Affirmative Action Plan.
March 25: Supreme Court rulings mad aid D.C. Fire Department's hiring plan supporting Affirmative Action.
April 20: Supporters say criticisms by Local 36 of Chief Coleman unjustified.
April 21: New Job Plan ordered for firefighters, D.C. gets 30-day deadline.
April 22: D.C. ordered to answer Hammon Complaint.
May 7: Fire Chief admits race lies at root of problems in DCFD.
June 26: D.C. files new Affirmative Action Plan, admits discrimination vs. Blacks.
Nov. 23: D.C. Fire, Police hiring plans back in U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Affirmative Action Cases to be reheard. D.C. settles Police hiring Plan, foils rehearing of Fire Department case.

1988

January 7: Four white captains win promotions to battalion chief under settlement with city and their attorneys receive $150,000 in fees.
Feb. 26: Fire Department overtime costs soar: $80 million total in 5 years reported. Costs result from "manning formulas" and racial discrimination lawsuit.
March: D.C. appeal firefighter case to U.S. Supreme Court.
May 6: Hammon plaintiffs files brief in supreme Court stating case does merit review on grounds of lack of standing of Justice Department and Local 36.
June 1: High Court snubs D.C. hiring plan, U.S. Supreme Court declined yesterday to review decision of U.S. Court of Appeals.

1989

March 1: Hammon plaintiffs submit comprehensive settlement proposal to Mayor Barry and D.C. officials.
April 19: Explosive situation led to slayings by firefighter: Tippett said Parson is only one who has reached boiling point over lack of promotions.
June: Progressive Fire Fighters Associations pickets Corporation Counsel's Office, South African Branch, for racist handling of Hammon case.
July-Aug.: Settlement talks go forward, issues resolved, papers ready for signatures, Corporation Counsel Cooke resigns.
August: Corporation Counsel Reid tells Hammon plaintiffs to settle suit with Local 36 first.
October 2: Joint Hammon/Byrne Settlement Proposal submitted to Corporation Counsel Reid. D.C. expresses shock at Hammon/Local 36 settlement.
Nov. 1: Final draft Consent Decree submitted to Corporation Counsel for signatures.
Dec. 19: Joint Hammon/Byrne letter to Corporation Counsel Valentine to schedule meeting of all parties to continue to work on settlement. Valentine attempting to abort.

1990

January 26: Joint meeting of parties, Corporation Counsel agrees to settle Hammon case, continue to work on settlement of joint Hammon/Byrne settlement
January 29: Court status call, Corporation Counsel switches agreed to Consent Decree, Judge suggest redraft.
February 1: D.C. and Hammon redraft agreement, include Local settlement on promotions.
March 22: Mayor authorizes settlement figure. Consent Decree agreed upon.
March 26: Deputy Corporation Counsel tries to present new, nonnegotiated Consent Decree.
April 6: Court Status call, Corporation Counsel Reid and Grossman say no agreement exists. Judge refers case to Special Master. D.C., Hammon, Local 36 to each pay 1/3 costs.
April 9: Local 36 files Position Statement with the court: Agrees to match money Hammon pays for Master for 4 month period and seeks to file motion to dismiss Hammon case.