Opinion ID: 354271
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: whether the assignment and transfer policies of appellees violated title vii

Text: 66 The second major issue in this appeal is the assignment and transfer policies of defendants-appellees. The district court found that: since 1966 assignments and transfers have been based primarily on seniority within each rank; 15 that transfers are granted to blacks when a vacancy is available; that the absence of blacks from certain specialized units was attributable to the failure of qualified blacks to apply 16 and to factors other than race; that blacks had been transferred to other specialized units; and that the fact that predominantly black stations are located in predominantly black areas results partly from discriminatory policies before 1966 (before defendants became subject to Title VII) and partly from personal preferences of blacks. The district court concluded, therefore, that (t)he weight of the evidence does not show an existing pattern of discriminatory assignments or failure to transfer, either generally or to specialized units. The court nevertheless ordered defendants to post all vacancies simultaneously in each firehouse for a period of at least 30 days before such vacancies are filled and to post transfer orders indicating background information about each person transferred. The court rejected a request by plaintiff-appellant to order involuntary transfers to remedy the effects of prior discrimination. 67 We have reviewed the record on this aspect of the case and cannot say the findings of the district court are clearly erroneous. Thus we affirm the district court's finding that the assignment and transfer policies of defendants did not violate Title VII and denial of relief requested by plaintiffs on this appeal. There has been no appeal from the requirement that vacancies and transfer orders be posted and this aspect of the judgment of the district court will remain in effect.