May 05--About 138 women denied jobs with the Chicago Fire Department will have a chance to reapply to be firefighters Monday after reaching an agreement with the city in a federal class-action lawsuit.
The women passed the written test in 2006 but were denied jobs because they failed the department's physical abilities test. Another 49 women who were also denied are now too old to work for the Fire Department, the plaintiffs' attorneys said.
After she was turned away, Samantha Vasich filed a 2011 federal lawsuit in Chicago, arguing the test placed too much emphasis on strength rather than firefighting skills.
Last month, the city agreed to use the Candidate Physical Ability Test -- developed by the International Association of Fire Fighters -- to assess the rejected female candidates for admission to the next two firefighter classes, said Marni Willenson, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys.
"It's a vast improvement over what was there," Willenson said.
Under the agreement, women who were denied jobs and who pass the new test will be given first priority. The agreement also sets aside funding for a women's training program.
Those who aren't granted jobs, no longer want to apply or are ineligible will share about $2 million in damages, said Willenson.
The settlement needs City Council approval, said Law Department spokesman Roderick Drew.
A representative for the Chicago Fire Department could not be reached for comment Saturday afternoon.
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