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!, ~n~i-Discriminatien Laws, <br /> <br /> The ~inneso~a Department of Human Rights considers volunteer <br />firefight~rs to be employees who benefit ~rom the protections of <br />the Human Rights Law. Minnesota Departmen~ of Human Rights Case <br />Number E2i1208-MGSi-4. In addition, courts in other siates have <br />characueri~$ed volunteer firefigh~ers as employees for %heir <br /> <br />anti-discrimination laws. HavmQov Vo~unteeI ?~re ComDamv & <br /> <br />~~ As~ocia~iQn x, CQ~Donwea%tb Qf ~ennsx,~van~a, 73 Pa <br />Commw. 59~, 459 A.2d 439 (1983); ~ebard v. Baskin~ RidGe Fire <br />~omDaDv No~ !, 164 N.J.Super.77, ~95 A.2d 870 (!978). <br /> <br />How ShOuld Personnel Decisions Be.Made? <br /> <br />If fi~efighters are considered employees <br /> <br />and there is a <br /> <br /> just cause" standard for discipline, ~hey <br />ceriain d~ process rights before termination. <br />cf Educa-~ ipn x, LOUd e_-m,, i~ ~ ~ <br /> <br />are entitled %o <br /> <br /> Cleveland Board <br /> <br /> addition, ~be Minnesota Human Righus Act and federal civil <br /> < <br /> <br /> ri~h~s ~ _ _ such <br /> ~aws Drckibit employment decqs~ons based on <br /> <br /> impermissible ~ac%ors as skin color sex ~nd a~e <br /> <br />Many v~lunteer ~4we deoar~ments have by-laws which provide <br /> <br />=or se ! ec~i~,on and 5er~.ina~ion of firefichters by membership. <br /> <br />vote, crieD[, through secret ballot. <br /> <br />The explosion of employment <br /> <br />!a~ and case decisions make this situation very risky. Under <br /> <br />~'--~ di ~ ' - <br />ex_~._ng Scrimination case _aM', a secret ba!!o~ creates = <br /> <br /> no-win" situation for the C~y. The piiin%iff merely needs to <br /> <br />show nhan ~e/she is in a protected : ~lass and was denied <br />employment. The burden then shifts to %he employer to show that <br /> <br />~5 <br /> <br /> <br />