Levy Ratner– the law firm that has represented 1199SEIU for nearly 30 years– won a historic victory March 18 with an agreement by New York City to settle a discrimination suit brought by firefighters of color and advocates to integrate the city’s Fire Department. The city agreed to pay $98 million in back pay and benefits to minorities whose efforts to join the department were thwarted by what courts have ruled were institutional biases.
Lead counsel for the firefighters of color was Richard Levy, head partner of Levy Ratner and a former 1199SEIU general counsel who remains a legal consultant to the 1199SEIU Funds. Dan Ratner, Levy’s partner in the firm, is the current 1199SEIU general counsel.
As part of the settlement on Tuesday, the Fire Department agreed to create a chief of diversity and inclusion, who will report directly to the fire commissioner, as well as a diversity advocate who will monitor hiring practices and cadet training for discrimination.
Levy discussed the settlement March 19 on the syndicated news program, “Democracy Now!” He appeared with Paul Washington, past president of the Black firefighters’ group, the Vulcan Society of Black Firefighters, and captain of Engine 234 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Lead counsel for the firefighters of color was Richard Levy, head partner of Levy Ratner and a former 1199SEIU general counsel who remains a legal consultant to the 1199SEIU Funds. Dan Ratner, Levy’s partner in the firm, is the current 1199SEIU general counsel.
As part of the settlement on Tuesday, the Fire Department agreed to create a chief of diversity and inclusion, who will report directly to the fire commissioner, as well as a diversity advocate who will monitor hiring practices and cadet training for discrimination.
Levy discussed the settlement March 19 on the syndicated news program, “Democracy Now!” He appeared with Paul Washington, past president of the Black firefighters’ group, the Vulcan Society of Black Firefighters, and captain of Engine 234 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
