jbm32206
11-26-2007, 04:49 PM
Looks like there's more trouble brewing for the city officials...
A former spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department has sued the city, citing gender discrimination. Bennie Seth, whose annual salary was $55,000 when she left the department in August 2006, claims that other male public information officers in the city and other fire department division chiefs made more money than she did while at the city, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court Nov. 20.
While Seth was working for the city, “Mayor Peyton stated something to the effect of ‘don’t pay her much, her husband makes a lot of money,’” according to the lawsuit.
Prior to working for the city, Seth was a volunteer on Mayor John Peyton’s campaign. Seth received one raise since she started with the city in July 2003 making $42,000, but other requests were turned down, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleged that every time then-Fire Chief Rick Barrett requested a raise for Seth, “vicious and unfounded rumors about a relationship” between her and Barrett would circulate and she wouldn’t get her raise.
In August 2006, Seth told the Times-Union that Barrett asked her to resign at the request of Peyton’s office. Barrett told the Times-Union at the time that Seth was asked to leave because the city was reorganizing its public information office. Seth then went to work for Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland from September through May when he said he cut her position because of budget issues.
– Mary Kelli Palka
http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2007/11/26/ex-jacksonville-fire-department-spokeswoman-sues-claims-gender-discrimination/
A former spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department has sued the city, citing gender discrimination. Bennie Seth, whose annual salary was $55,000 when she left the department in August 2006, claims that other male public information officers in the city and other fire department division chiefs made more money than she did while at the city, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court Nov. 20.
While Seth was working for the city, “Mayor Peyton stated something to the effect of ‘don’t pay her much, her husband makes a lot of money,’” according to the lawsuit.
Prior to working for the city, Seth was a volunteer on Mayor John Peyton’s campaign. Seth received one raise since she started with the city in July 2003 making $42,000, but other requests were turned down, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleged that every time then-Fire Chief Rick Barrett requested a raise for Seth, “vicious and unfounded rumors about a relationship” between her and Barrett would circulate and she wouldn’t get her raise.
In August 2006, Seth told the Times-Union that Barrett asked her to resign at the request of Peyton’s office. Barrett told the Times-Union at the time that Seth was asked to leave because the city was reorganizing its public information office. Seth then went to work for Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland from September through May when he said he cut her position because of budget issues.
– Mary Kelli Palka
http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2007/11/26/ex-jacksonville-fire-department-spokeswoman-sues-claims-gender-discrimination/