Black FDNY employees plan to file $150M discrimination suit against the department

The Fire Department previously settled a massive suit charging discrimination against blacks and Hispanics applying to become firefighters, agreeing to pay $98 million and revamp its hiring practices.

The new complaint charges racism is also widespread within the civilian ranks.

“Whenever there’s a salary increase, they’re not getting it. Whenever there’s a promotion, they’re not getting it,” said lawyer Greg Smith. “These disparate racist treatments of our city workers … need to stop.”

Frances Dempsey, 62, who has worked for the FDNY for 41 years, said three white male managers with the same title as her earn $25-35,000 more than she does per year.

“No matter what you do, nobody recognizes what you do,” she said. “I’d like to see things change so that other employees that are coming after me who work hard and who like the city and like the Fire Department and like to do good work be adequately compensated.”

Stephanie Thomas, a 28-year veteran, said she’s been passed over for numerous jobs she was qualified for. “It’s like I’m expected to live for less,” she said.

FDNY spokesman Frank Gribbon said the department hasn’t seen the complaint and so couldn’t respond to its specific allegations, but would treat it “as we would any serious complaint.”

“In the last three years, the Department — under Commissioner Nigro — has implemented extensive and unprecedented progress towards increasing and improving diversity, inclusiveness and fairness throughout the agency — amongst all employees, civilian and uniformed,” he said, touting reforms including an overhaul and appointment of a new commissioner for the equal opportunity employment office, a new diversity office and department-wide diversity training, and a survey of the civilian workforce to identify concerns.

“Never has the FDNY had such a diverse leadership team, including more women and people of color in senior positions, than at any point in our 151-year history. This executive leadership team has driven dozens of historic reforms and positive changes,” Gribbon said.