City Council Votes No to Equal Employment Opportunity Amendment

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – A new guide book adopted by the city of Chattanooga for its employees has a section devoted to Equal Employment Opportunities.

Along with the usual reasons that employers may not discriminate – like race and religion – Chattanooga added that city employees cannot be discriminated against for their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This ordinance concerned Councilman Chip Henderson.

"If we had groups or special interests, it could seem like maybe we’re favoring pressure from certain groups," said Henderson. "I feel like if we follow the federal law that it will certainly stand on its own and it will keep us out of any future problems."

Tuesday night at City Council, Henderson proposed an amendment replacing this section with the federal equal employment opportunity guidelines.

Sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected in these guidelines.

"It is the current federal law and it’s what the state goes by as well so I think that’s good enough for the city to go by," said Henderson.

Well, one vote by Henderson and another vote by Councilman Ken Smith to continue discussion wasn’t enough and the vote was struck down.

Councilman Chris Anderson who sponsored a non-discrimination ordinance which passed earlier this month said passing this amendment would have been a setback.

"A few weeks ago the city council passed a non-discrimination ordinance to protect all of our employees from bullying, harassment and termination," said Anderson. "Tonight there was an attempt to undo some of that and fortunately we were able to beat it."

The federal Equal Employment Opportunities guidelines stems from the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Also passed tonight at city council was this new city employee handbook.

It’s the first of its kind and the 200 page guide took over 18 months to make.