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Court ruling will have little effect in McHenry County By.Kurt Begalka Plaindealer news service A U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding "last hired, first fired" policies will not have much of an effect on McHenry County according to spokespersons from area municipalities. Seniority is a major element of Woodstock's personnel plan, Councilwoman Joan Mansfield said. "You've got to earn your way." Woodstock City Manager pennis Anderson added that seniority and performance were the major criteria on whether to fire an employee if the city is faced with layoffs in the future. Crystal Lake City Manager Joe Misurelli acknowledged, "We really haven't interpreted it (the ruling). It makes no difference. It doesn't look like an issue we will have to deal with." Misurelli stressed that the city "subscribes to good opportunity and affirmative action." While acknowledging, "nobody can see perfectly into the future," he added that astute planning can avoid layoffs. Elgin City Manager Robert Malm agreed, predicting there would be no need for "arbitrary layoffs" in his city. He pointed out that the seniority is un­ derlined in the state statutes. Chapter 127 of the Illinois Revised Statutes states layoffs resulting from lack of funds^or work, consolidation or a change in duties should be based on "performance record, seniority in service and impact on Beach noted as unsafe Water samples collected from swimming beaches by the McHenry County Department of Health on June 11 and 12, were obtained from several beaches on the Fox River and from some of the lakes in the county. Those beaches at which the water was found to be un­ satisfactory for swiiqming were: Seep Spring Woods No. 2, Wonder Lake and Emerald Lake, Huntley. The beach at which there has been two consecutive un­ satisfactory samples and which the department will be posting as unsafe for swimming is: Emerald Lake, Huntley. The department recommends that persons refrain from swimming for two to three days following a heavy rain. Associations governing the following beaches did not choose to participate in the McHenry County Department of Health sampling program this year: Wonder Woods, Wonder Lake; Lakemoor Beach and Porten's Subdivision. It's too late to mail order plate sticker Automobile owners with license plates expiring in June who have not mailed their ap­ plications should buy their new plates and-or stickers at a Secretary of State facility or financial institution, Sec. of State Jim Edgar announced. It is now too late to send ap­ plications by mail and guarantee delivery of the new plates and-or stickers before the June 30 expiration deadline. However, stickers and plates may be purchased at Secretary of State facilities in Springfield and Chicago, and at more than 1,400 financial institutions, in­ cluding 660 banks, 171 savings and loan associations, 16 credit unions and about 600 Chicago area currency exchanges. "If you have a current license plate with numbers only, you will be issued new plates this year," Edgar explained. "During the next three years, all 5.5 million cars in Illinois will receive license plates with the new design." Motorists,, wishing to keep their same plate number can i apply for their new plates through a Secretary of State facility or financial institution. Pre-printed renewal ap­ plications have been mailed to approximately 562,000 owners who renew their stickers in June, and 44,500 owners who will also receive the new passenger car license plates this month. achieving equal employment opportunity goals." The decision has sharply split organized labor leaders who support the seniority system and civil rights leaders seeking economic opportunity for blacks and women. The 6-3 decision last week overturned a lower court decision that barred the Memphis, Tenn., Fire Depart­ ment from laying off firefighters according to seniority during the city's economic cutbacks in 1981. The lower court ruling protected black firefighters nred under a department af­ firmative action program. The Reagan administration led the battle against protection for the affirmative action em­ ployees, saying that keeping black workers on the job would amount to racial discrimination against white workers who had been hired earlier. Attorney General William French Smith called the riding "the correct decision" and said it "does not in any way affect those persons who have been victims of discrimination." ' McHenry Mayor Joe Stanek added, "I think it is a good ruling by the Supreme Court. They're finally coming back to reality." Stanek said society bases rewards on experience and service. He said the seniority system protects older em­ ployees from being "thrown out in the garbage." Justice Byron R. White's majority opinion said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects seniority systems which are not discriminatory, "and it is inappropriate to deny an innocent employee the benefits of his seniority...." Arlene Emblon, president of the Woodstock Business and Professional Women's Club, said the group has not discussed the issue as yet. Personally, she believes it is a "very touchy situation." Emblon said women are just beginning to move into the workplace and shed . the sterotypical roles of waitress and homemaker. Due to raising children or pursuing an education many women get a later start than men, she said, and carry less seniority. "I don't think anything is ever black and white," she said. "What I think we really have to do is work together. We have to show more respect for people regardless of race, religion or sex." In his decision, Justice White noted that there had been no finding of racial discrimination against any of the individual black firefighters whose jobs were protected. Hie dissenters were Justices Harry A. Blackmun, Thurgood Marshall and William J. Brennan. They argued that since the Memphis firefighter layoffs have been rescinded, the decision was moot and the case should have been thrown out of court. m m 3/8 w r Z.7 f h • 32*1 : ' O S 9? f 9 ; rn ri