Prometheus 6

FDNY Accused 0f Racial Discrimination in Promotion
(New York-AP, May 11, 2003) - A federal agency has determined a city Fire Department architect was denied promotion because of racial discrimination.

McLaughlin Harris, 48, who is black, sought promotion to the position of deputy director of construction management. After a white colleague got the post, Harris filed a discrimination complaint.

But the department's Office of Equal Opportunity Employment ruled on April 5, 2002 that his complaint was "unsubstantiated."

… He also complained of the job not being posted. But the department officials balked at the notion saying they "were not obligated to post the job opening because it was a management position."

Still, the EEOC found that the department's failure to post the opening "strongly suggests preselection" of the person who was selected instead of Harris.