The Collin County Observer

Last meeting, the commissioners court left as unfinished business the adoption of an Equal Employment Opportunity Program.

Why?

Because they're afraid of it - They are afraid that adopting a policy and tracking the numbers will lead to quota hiring. They are afraid they will get resistance from elected department managers. They are afraid that the policy will open the door to groups, such as gays, that will demand equal employment protection. And I believe they are afraid that if they publish their statistics that they will look as bad as they really are.

If they are so afraid of EEOP, then why are they even discussing it?

Because big money is involved - The federal government will withhold grant money if the county does not adopt a policy that is statistically tracked and that doesn't have goals to improve.

Big money - County staff estimates that over the next year $3.4 million of federal grant money could be withheld. Of that, $1.3 million is for WIC. Loss of the WIC grant would be devastating for low income women and children.

The statistics the court is wary of publishing are troubling. They show huge gender and ethnic disparities. These gaps have been allowed to occur even though Collin County advertises itself to be an "Equal Opportunity Employer".

An example - In the "administrative support" class, the county employs 481 people, of which a whopping 83% (393) are white females. Is it coincidental that the 2 largest departments that hire support employees are headed by elected white females? Is it coincidental that these are among the lowest paying jobs in the county?

Some more examples:

• 46 are employed in the "service maintenance" class - 98% (45) of them are white men
• 92 are employed in the "skilled craft" class - 84% (77) of them are white men
• 50 are employed as "technicians", 74% (37) of them are male
• In non-law enforcement positions, black men are underemployed in every class except "skilled craft"

Law enforcement is no exception:

• Out of 73 sworn officials (the highest paid jobs), 79% (58) are white men
• Out of 124 sworn patrol officers, only 13 are women (90% men)

At the last meeting, Judge Self tried to make it clear what his position is. He said that "The issue is whether or not we want to apply for certain federal level law enforcement grants over $25,000... This is basically a tracking function. This has nothing to do with the hiring policy of the county." (emphasis added)

In listening to the reaction of Judge Self, I am reminded of Ann Richards' famous quip, "He can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."

Judge Self sure put his silver foot in his mouth with the "nothing to do with the hiring policy" statement. I hope he doesn't mean it. What Self was trying to do was to prohibit discussion on expanding the policy to include sexual orientation. He and the county don't want to open the door to that debate - they fear the backlash of their own party.

Their fear effectively ended any chance of a real debate on the need for, or the merits of, a real Equal Employment Opportunity policy. There was no discussion on how to improve opportunities for women and minorities. Instead, the debate was on whether it is more cost effective to enact the policy or turn down the grant funds.

Traditionally, there have been two ways to redress unfair and unequal hiring practices. One is to change the policy and actively seek a balanced workforce that reflects the community.

The other is to put blinders on until an employee or class action lawsuit forces a change under the direction of a court.

I hope that Collin County will not choose Plan B.

Bill

The proposed EEOP policy, including the statistics is here.

Note: The Commissioners Court will meet this Tuesday, April 29 at 1:30 P.M.

The discussion of the EEOP policy is agenda item #18. The Court does allow public comment on any agenda item, simply fill out a card before the meeting to request your right to speak on agenda item #18.

The meeting is on the 6th Floor of the Collin County Courthouse at 210 S. McDonald St. in McKinney