DNAinfo Chicago recently published an article discussing a growing controversy among some Chicago firefighters over a new city hiring initiative that gives preference to graduates of the Chicago Public School (CPS) system.

The firefighter union is now considering legal action against the policy, which grants CPS graduates a hiring advantage in city jobs—especially as Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pushing forward with a new recruitment drive for the Fire Department. The city’s online application portal for the fire department is open until September 16, and it costs $30 to apply. A written exam is scheduled for December, and the job posting clearly states that individuals with prior fire or police training, relatives of those who died in service, veterans, and CPS graduates are given priority.

However, the CPS graduate preference has sparked strong opposition from some members of the firefighter union. Tom Ryan, president of the city's firefighter union, said the issue has caused significant concern among union members, who believe that all Chicago residents should be treated equally, regardless of where they went to school.

"Our members feel that being a taxpayer and a citizen should be enough," Ryan said. "They believe all children living in Chicago should have the same opportunities." The hiring notice, first posted last week, explicitly mentions the CPS Graduate Preference, a policy that Mayor Emanuel has frequently promoted to encourage students to stay in school and earn their diplomas.

Mayor Emanuel’s office claims the policy is meant to motivate CPS students to complete their education and prepare for future careers. According to a spokesperson, the city ensures that at least 20% of candidates referred for positions with the CPS preference are CPS graduates.

Despite this, some union members are upset about the perceived unfairness. David Quintavalle, a firefighter union board member, expressed frustration on Facebook, stating that many union members have sent their children to private schools for personal or religious reasons, and they feel the policy unfairly disadvantages them.

"If the union doesn’t take legal action, we’ll have to do it ourselves," Quintavalle said. "It’s not enough that our members pay taxes to support the CPS system—they now have to send their kids there just to get a preference in the firefighter exam. That’s discrimination, and we won’t stand for it."

While Ryan hasn’t ruled out litigation, he emphasized that the issue is still open for discussion and that the exam isn’t until December. He also noted that the city may change its approach before then. However, the debate shows deep divisions within the union over what it means to be a fair and inclusive hiring process in Chicago.

Thanks, Dan

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