Two Women Firefighters Sue San Jose for Gender Discrimination
Two San Jose firefighters are suing the city for gender discrimination, retaliation and harassment saying they were passed up for promotions because they are women.
Battalion Chief Patricia Tapia and retired Battalion Chief Debra Ward say they are fighting to change the culture of exclusion at the fire department.
“This fight is for every little girl that wants to be a firefighter,” Tapia said.
Tapia said she’s applied for 10 promotions in the past five years and has been denied each time.
“People have been selected with less experience, less training,” she said.
Two former fire chiefs also have been named in the lawsuit. Ward and Tapia are seeking wage compensation and pension benefits that would have been provided if they had been promoted.
Two San Jose firefighters are suing the city for gender discrimination, retaliation and harassment saying they were passed up for promotions because they are women. Battalion Chief Patricia Tapia and retired Battalion Chief Debra Ward say they are fighting to change the culture of exclusion at the fire department. “This fight is for every little girl that wants to be a firefighter,” Tapia said. Tapia said she’s applied for 10 promotions in the past five years and has been denied each time. “People have been selected with less experience, less training,” she said. Two former fire chiefs also have been named in the lawsuit. Ward and Tapia are seeking wage compensation and pension benefits that would have been provided if they had been promoted. Two former fire chiefs also have been named in the lawsuit. Ward and Tapia are seeking wage compensation and pension benefits that would have been provided if they had been promoted. Two former fire chiefs also have been named in the lawsuit. Ward and Tapia are seeking wage compensation and pension benefits that would have been provided if they had been promoted.