All of Us or None and City of San Francisco Find Common Ground To End Discrimination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2006
Contact: Dorsey Nunn 415-516-9599

Linda Evans 510-219-0297

Tony Coleman 510-830-9781
Press Conference: 9:30 a.m., SF City Hall (Polk Street steps)
Civil Service Commission meeting: 10 a.m., Room 416, SF City Hall

All of Us or None and City of San Francisco
Find Common Ground to End Discrimination


San Francisco, CA—In time for the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, the City of San Francisco has once again taken the lead in progressive reform by ending discrimination in the City and County hiring process. In a victory for civil rights advocates everywhere, formerly-incarcerated activists with All of Us or None and officials in the San Francisco Department of Human Resources collaborated to reach an agreement that significantly reforms the City’s hiring process, to reduce prejudice and discrimination against people based on past convictions. All of Us or None is a grassroots civil rights organization of formerly-incarcerated people, prisoners, and their families, dedicated to fighting all forms of discrimination faced by people with past convictions. Now San Francisco will have a hiring process that ensures fairness and equal opportunity for people with past convictions, while guaranteeing that legitimate public safety concerns are met.

Discussions between All of Us or None, the Department of Human Resources, and Civil Service Commission followed adoption of a resolution passed unanimously by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on October 11. This original resolution was sponsored by Supervisors Tom Ammiano, Sophie Maxwell, Chris Daly, and Ross Mirkarimi. The San Francisco Human Rights Commission also supported the resolution. The proposals put forth by All of Us or None will be integrated into the current comprehensive reform of the City’s hiring process. These changes include:
1. The question, “Have you been convicted by a court?” will be removed from the initial application for the City/County of San Francisco.
2. No disclosure of past convictions will be required until the finalist stage of the application process
3. An opportunity to explain in an interview about conviction history during finalist stage
4. Only convictions related to job responsibilities will be considered
5. Appeal rights will be guaranteed if the applicant perceives discrimination
6. Statutory bars to specific jobs will be listed on the job announcement

What this means is that people with past convictions attempting to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society will have equal opportunity for a job with the City and County of San Francisco. Privacy rights will be safeguarded, as applicants will not have to disclose past convictions until they have been screened and determined qualified, making it to the finalist phase of the hiring process.

Millions of people have past convictions in this country and the number is constantly growing. In light of this fact, it is imperative that our society creates true equal opportunity and support for the ever-increasing number of people who have past convictions. It is a matter justice, equality and public safety. “All of Us or None doesn't view this as a conclusion but the beginning of a struggle to end discrimination throughout the state of California,” said Dorsey Nunn, one of the All of Us or None organizers. It is very appropriate that San Francisco is leading the way in 2006. Dr. King would be proud.