Description: Marcus Jones reports on the affirmative action program at the Bank of Boston. Twenty percent of the employees at the bank are minorities. Interview with Charles Gifford from the Bank of Boston, who says that a diverse workforce makes sense. Gifford says that the bank will hire any qualified candidate, regardless of race. Gifford adds that he would like to hire more minorities in top bank positions. Jones reports that bank managers have set affirmative action goals that exceed federal requirements because they believe that an integrated workforce is good for business. Interview with Rosa Hunter, the Director of Affirmative Action Planning for the Bank of Boston. Hunter talks about the bank's commitment to diversity. Jones reviews statistics concerning minority professionals and minority managers at the Bank of Boston. He notes that most minority employees are hired for entry-level and mid-level positions. The edited story is followed by additional b-roll footage of Bank of Boston employees in the offices and cafeteria. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: Meg Vaillancourt reports on affirmative action in the Boston Fire Department
1:00:10: Visual: Shots of Bank of Boston employees riding on an escalator in a Bank of Boston building; of a sign for the Bank of Boston. Shots of tellers helping customers in a Bank of Boston office. Marcus Jones reports that the Bank of Boston employs almost 20,000 people; that 20 percent of the employees are minorities. Shots of an African American bank teller; of employees eating lunch in a cafeteria. Jones reports that the bank has doubled its number of minority employees in the past ten years; that bank executives see room for more minorities among their employees. V: Footage of Charles Gifford (Bank of Boston) being interviewed by Jones in his office. Gifford says that a diverse work force makes sense regardless of affirmative action guidelines. Shots of the interior of the Bank of Boston; of customers and tellers inside of the bank. Jones reports that the Bank of Boston receives federal funding; that the Bank of Boston is obligated to comply with federal affirmative action guidelines. Jones notes that the bank management has often set goals which exceed federal requirements. Jones reports that the bank managers believe that an integrated workforce is good for business. V: Shots of employees in a Bank of Boston office. Footage of Gifford saying that the Bank of Boston is growing; that they need more employees. Gifford says that the bank will be at an advantage if it is known as an employer who is open to all. Gifford says that he wants the bank to hire people according to qualifications and performance. Jones reports that Rosa Hunter (Director of Affirmative Action Planning for the Bank of Boston) has worked at the Bank of Boston for 21 years; that Hunter has directed the Bank of Boston's affirmative action effort for two years. V: Footage of Hunter being interviewed by Jones. Hunter says that the Bank of Boston is committed to diversity; that the Bank of Boston will continue its diversity efforts regardless of court rulings against affirmative action programs. Shot of an African American employee at the Bank of Boston. Jones reports that the number of minority managers at the Bank of Boston increased from 4.3% to 9.7% between 1978 and 1988. Jones notes that the number of minority professionals at the Bank of Boston increased from 6.6% to 12.4% from 1978 to 1988. V: On-screen text and visuals detail statistics on the percentage of minority managers and the percentage of minority professionals at the Bank of Boston. Shots of employees eating at a cafeteria. Jones reports that minority employees are being hired for entry-level and mid-level postions; that few minority employees are being appointed to top-level management positions. V: Footage of Gifford saying that the bank is not satisfied with the low number of minority and female employees among its top positions. Gifford says that he expects those numbers to improve because the bank is open to promoting qualified employees to top positions regardless of race or gender. Shot of an African American female bank employee in a Bank of Boston office.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/15/1989
Description: Deborah Wang reports that the city of Boston's minority set-aside program is facing a court challenge. This program allows minority-owned businesses to break into their industries by inviting them to participate in municipal projects. Interview with Robert McCoy pf McCoy Landscaping, who says that his business could not have survived without the program. The Consortium of Minority Business Enterprises has been formed to protect set-aside laws in Massachusetts. Interview with Walter Williams of the Contractors' Association of Boston, about the set-aside programs. The Consortium gave a hostile reception to Sen. John Kerry at a recent meeting, where he says that public opinion is not in favor of set-aside programs. Wang notes that Consortium members seem to be united in support of set-aside programs. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: Press conference to celebrate the positive findings of a study on the state's Healthy Start Program
1:00:08: Visual: Footage of construction workers digging holes for the construction of a new park in Roxbury. Deborah Wang reports that the new Roxbury park is a $400,000 project which has been funded by the city of Boston. Wang reports that the work is being done by McCoy Landscapers; that McCoy Landscapers may not have had an opportunity to do the job five years ago. V: Footage of Robert McCoy (McCoy Landscaping) being interviewed by Wang at the park site. McCoy says that the minority set-aside program has allowed him to build his business; that he could not have survived without the program. Wang reports that McCoy says that minority firms often have a hard time getting their bids accepted by contractors. V: Shots of construction workers digging holes at the Roxbury park site. Footage of McCoy saying that most contractors want to work with firms with which they are familiar. McCoy says that the minority set-aside program has allowed his company to break into the business. Wang reports that the minority set-aside program has been threatened by a Supreme Court decision; that Boston's set-aside program is facing a court challenge. Wang reports that minority business owners say that their businesses will be devastated if the program is shut down. V: Shot of workers digging and measuring holes at the Roxbury site. Footage of a meeting held by the Consortium of Minority Business Enterprises. Shot of a banner for the Contractors' Association of Boston, which hangs on a wall of the meeting room. Shots of the media and audience members at the meeting. Wang reports that the Consortium of Minority Business Enterprises has been formed to protect set-aside laws in Massachusetts. V: Footage of Walter Williams (Contractors' Association of Boston) being interviewed by Wang. Williams says that minority-owned businesses will be fighting with white-owned businesses for opportunities. Wang reports that members of the Consortium of Minority Business Enterprises gave a hostile reception to John Kerry (US Senator). Wang notes that Kerry has been a long-time supporter of set-aside programs. Wang reports that Kerry told the Consortium that public opinion is against them. V: Footage of Kerry at the Consortium meeting. Kerry says that Irish immigrants, Italian immigrants, and immigrants of other nationalities struggled to succeed without affirmative action programs when they arrived in the US. A Consortium member tells Kerry that he does not care if the Consortium offends other groups. Kerry tells the Consortium that he is trying to describe the feelings of other groups toward affirmative action programs; that the Consortium needs to decide whether or not to take these feelings into account. Kerry says that there will be trouble if the Consortium does not care about the feelings of other groups. Shots of Consortium members attending the meeting, including Deval Patrick (attorney). Wang reports that the Consortium needs to decide whether it will compromise; that members took a hard line at today's meeting. V: Footage of McCoy being interviewed by Wang at the Roxbury park site. saying that the Consortium will probably offend some groups with its actions; that the civil rights movement offended some people. McCoy says that the Consortium will not change its position.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/15/1989