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A federal discrimination lawsuit filed this month against the Lansing Board of Water & Light says two employees in November wore Ku Klux Klan-like hoods to apparently taunt a black co-worker.
That incident is one of several allegations made by Corey Clay in the lawsuit filed Feb. 9 in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.
Clay, an electrical worker from Lansing who was hired in 2001, endured "a racially discriminating hostile work environment" for many years with little or no management response, according to the lawsuit.
BWL spokesman Mark Nixon said that after learning about the November incident, management took immediate action that resulted in "disciplinary action and the termination of a Board of Water & Light employee."
Nixon added: "The law firm representing Mr. Clay is aware of these actions."
Clay's Clinton Township-based
attorney, Heidi Sharp, said one of the employees was reinstated recently.
Clay works as an apprentice under that employee's purview and is evaluated by him, Sharp said.
The situation "has just been devastating to him emotionally," she said.
According to the lawsuit: In November, while working in the field with an all-white crew, Clay was called to where co-workers were working underground.
He looked into a manhole, and two co-workers were wearing white hoods with eye holes cut out, resembling Ku Klux Klan hoods.
"They were laughing at (Clay) and showing their other co-workers," the lawsuit says.
"When their crew returned to the BWL station, his co-workers told the other employees what they had done."
Clay reported the incident to an unnamed union representative, who after not getting a response from the BWL's diversity manager, reported it to General Manager J. Peter Lark.
On Nov. 20, the lawsuit says, Clay met with Lark, and Lark told him he knows "t
here are people (at the utility) who will discriminate."
An official with the union that represents about 420 BWL employees said Friday that BWL management has been receptive to dealing with racial problems.
"The board has always been real sensitive to things like this," said Jim Dravenstatt-Moceri, the union's assistant business manager.
He added: "I've worked there 30 years. It's a family-oriented company - that's the way I see it."
The lawsuit also claims:
"¢ Superiors refused to hire Clay for jobs because of race.
"¢ He was disciplined for acts that would not lead to discipline for his white employees.
"¢ He received less training and pay than others who held the same or similar positions.
In 2003, according to the lawsuit, a crew leader sprayed Clay with a water bottle filled with bleach, telling him: "I'm going to bleach you white."
Clay reported the incident to supervisors but was forced to continue working with the crew leade
r who received a 10-day suspension.
Clay, who initially asked the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to investigate the utility, is seeking unspecified relief.
The lawsuit says he suffered loss of wages and career opportunities, and had been embarrassed and humiliated.
"They've allowed this pattern of practice to go on," Sharp said, "which has created this culture of discrimination throughout the company."
source
Goes to prove some people can't take a joke. :kickbutt:
That incident is one of several allegations made by Corey Clay in the lawsuit filed Feb. 9 in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.
Clay, an electrical worker from Lansing who was hired in 2001, endured "a racially discriminating hostile work environment" for many years with little or no management response, according to the lawsuit.
BWL spokesman Mark Nixon said that after learning about the November incident, management took immediate action that resulted in "disciplinary action and the termination of a Board of Water & Light employee."
Nixon added: "The law firm representing Mr. Clay is aware of these actions."
Clay's Clinton Township-based
attorney, Heidi Sharp, said one of the employees was reinstated recently.
Clay works as an apprentice under that employee's purview and is evaluated by him, Sharp said.
The situation "has just been devastating to him emotionally," she said.
According to the lawsuit: In November, while working in the field with an all-white crew, Clay was called to where co-workers were working underground.
He looked into a manhole, and two co-workers were wearing white hoods with eye holes cut out, resembling Ku Klux Klan hoods.
"They were laughing at (Clay) and showing their other co-workers," the lawsuit says.
"When their crew returned to the BWL station, his co-workers told the other employees what they had done."
Clay reported the incident to an unnamed union representative, who after not getting a response from the BWL's diversity manager, reported it to General Manager J. Peter Lark.
On Nov. 20, the lawsuit says, Clay met with Lark, and Lark told him he knows "t
here are people (at the utility) who will discriminate."
An official with the union that represents about 420 BWL employees said Friday that BWL management has been receptive to dealing with racial problems.
"The board has always been real sensitive to things like this," said Jim Dravenstatt-Moceri, the union's assistant business manager.
He added: "I've worked there 30 years. It's a family-oriented company - that's the way I see it."
The lawsuit also claims:
"¢ Superiors refused to hire Clay for jobs because of race.
"¢ He was disciplined for acts that would not lead to discipline for his white employees.
"¢ He received less training and pay than others who held the same or similar positions.
In 2003, according to the lawsuit, a crew leader sprayed Clay with a water bottle filled with bleach, telling him: "I'm going to bleach you white."
Clay reported the incident to supervisors but was forced to continue working with the crew leade
r who received a 10-day suspension.
Clay, who initially asked the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to investigate the utility, is seeking unspecified relief.
The lawsuit says he suffered loss of wages and career opportunities, and had been embarrassed and humiliated.
"They've allowed this pattern of practice to go on," Sharp said, "which has created this culture of discrimination throughout the company."
source
Goes to prove some people can't take a joke. :kickbutt: