Firefighter Discrimination Lawsuit

In two separate lawsuits, the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) charged municipalities in New York with discriminating against older volunteer firefighters because of their age in violation of federal law, according to a July 30, 2009 EEOC Press Release.  The age discrimination lawsuits filed by EEOC attorneys against the Oyster Bay Fire Department and the Brentwood Fire Department charge the respondents with refusing to allow volunteer firefighters over the age of 62 to accrue credit toward a Length of Service Program, the equivalent of a retirement pension, because of their age.  As a result, senior firefighters lost pension amounts after they turned 62, in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as stated in the Press Release.  See, http://www.eeoc.gov/press/7-30-09a.html .  An EEOC trial attorney quoted in the EEOC Press Release said that “Firefighters, who volunteer to help people in need, are entitled to fair retirement benefits that are calculated solely based on their service, without regard to their age.” 

Earlier this month, the EEOC held a public hearing on age discrimination and barriers to the employment of older workers.  Additional information about the hearing may be found on the EEOC’s website at http://www.eeoc.gov/abouteeoc/meetings/7-15-09/index.html .