Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 3, 1992 TAG: 9203030318
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ken Cronin, the city's personnel manager and affirmative action officer, said Monday that the turnover rate in the work force is usually 7-8 percent a year; it dropped to 3-4 percent this past year.
"During these tight economic conditions, people are holding on to their jobs," Cronin said.
The annual affirmative-action report, given Monday to City Council, shows that 23 percent of the city's work force of 1,900 employees is non-white, essentially the same as in the preceding year. City Manager Bob Herbert said the city has done well to hold its own in minority employment during a year when many vacancies were frozen because of the sluggish economy.
Some city officials have expressed concern over the type of jobs blacks hold in city government, not the number of black employees. Herbert predicted that the percentage of black employees in jobs with a higher classification will increase this fiscal year because of the city's effort to recruit more black police officers and firefighters.
The report reflects the work force from July 1, 1990, through June 30, 1991. It does not reflect the seven new black police officers who recently graduated from the Roanoke Police Academy.
Councilman William White said he thinks Herbert and other city administrators have "gotten the message that [council] wants progress" in the city's affirmative action plan to hire more black and female employees.
"They have been receptive to what we have said. We will have to give them time to see if they make progress," White said.
Mayor Noel Taylor said city officials should try to increase the number of blacks in middle- and upper-management posts. With the departure of Earl Reynolds, assistant city manager and the highest ranking black administrator, Taylor said he thinks it is especially important to get more blacks into management positions.
Reynolds resigned to become Martinsville city manager.
The affirmative-action report shows that 34 percent of the employees who were promoted in the past year are black and 44 percent are female.
To help get more blacks and women into the work force, city recruiters use college job fairs, recruitment at military bases and black colleges, a summer internship program and meetings with black ministers and service organizations.
City officials used several new approaches in the past year: participation at the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives Job Fair, development of a minority police officer recruitment committee and cultural diversity training.
Cronin said city officials are beginning work on a plan to recruit and hire more women and black firefighters. The city will develop a cultural diversity training program for all of its employees, he said.
by CNB