Investigation into Kansas City Fire Department says unions block needed reform on racism

After a news report revealed persistent issues with racist and sexist harassment at the Kansas City Fire Department, the city ordered an investigation into department conditions. It found problems persist, enabled in part by unions slowing efforts at reform.
A new report on the culture within the Kansas City Fire Department finds that its two unions wield too much power, making it difficult for the department to work with the city.

The report analyzed workplace culture within the department, namely “the struggle to achieve a balance between moral courage and social capital in KCFD.” According to the report, those qualities have been imbalanced for decades.

The report says the two International Association of Fire Fighters unions run the KCFD.