Nooses, swastikas, rebel flags lead to EEOC findings


DALLAS — In one of the largest civil rights investigations ever undertaken in Texas, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission declared that at least 100 African-Americans worked in a hostile environment and were subjected to racial graffiti, nooses, and symbols of hate while employed by Turner Industries in Paris, Texas.
The official three-page EEOC Determination, dated March 31, is what plaintiffs, their attorneys, the NAACP, and local civil rights leaders hailed as vindication during a news conference Wednesday morning outside the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Dallas.

News 8 reviewed images of nooses, Swastikas, and Confederate flags on toolboxes, cellular telephones, even welders’ helmets that attorneys said their clients photographed at Turner’s Paris facility, which manufactures oil pipeline products.
“You have African-Americans who’ve complained, who have been terminated, and you have whites who have stood up for the African-Americans who have been terminated,” plaintiffs attorney Sara Kane said.
Discrimination got worse, plaintiffs attorneys said, after the nation elected President Obama.
“As a result, you started to see more graffiti singling out Obama;  you had threats made against the president that the Secret Service investigated;  it became a very hostile environment to work in,” said Jay Ellwanger, another lawyer representing the plaintiffs.
“Turner Industries has a zero tolerance for any behavior in the workplace that disparages any employee,” John Fenner, corporate general counsel for Turner Industries, said in response to an email from News 8.
“We can further confirm that Turner has completed a full investigation into all accusations made at the plant,” he continued. “This investigation included the work of an independent and nationally-recognized workplace attorney. Our investigation revealed that no worker was subject to discrimination nor retaliation.”
The company, which brags it is owned by a woman, said it management held meetings with the entire staff at the Paris location to “clearly state the company’s position that no form of discrimination, racism, or any other behavior that may be interpreted as disparaging to any employee would be tolerated.”
In addition, Fenner said, Turner Industries initiated an Employee Task Force to “gauge employees’ thoughts and considerations regarding the work place.” Many of the Task Force’s recommendations were implemented, Fenner added, though none were specified.
Turner Industries said no one was fired for complaining about racism or in retaliation for it, disputing Kane’s comment.
Of the 37 managers who coordinate work at the Paris facility, Fenner said 78% are white, 12% or four managers are African-American and the remaining few are Hispanic and Indian.
“[Turner Industries] has an outstanding track record of recognizing, protecting, honoring, and enforcing employee rights, including for the last eleven years in Paris,” Fenner continued.
Fenner said Turner Industries is disappointed with the EEOC findings, but plans to meet to address the government’s concerns.
The EEOC’s Determination letter now allows the workers to file a lawsuit, if they choose.
E-mail [email protected]
Original Article: https://www.wfaa.com/news/Nooses-Swastikas-Rebel-flags-lead-to-EEOC-findings-90804919.html?gallery=y&img=2&c=y#gallery-image

by JASON WHITELY / WFAA-TV
Bio | Email | Follow: @jasonwhitely | Follow: @jasonwhitelywfaa.com

Posted on April 13, 2010 at 10:30 PM

EEOC cites local company

The Paris News
EEOC cites local company
By Mary Madewell
Published April 9, 2010
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – Dallas District has cited Turner Industries Group for civil rights violations and has ordered a formal dispute resolution process.
The commission’s action, confirmed in a March 31 letter to Turner and to attorneys representing eight of the firm’s Paris employees, comes as a result of charges filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Attorney James Vagnini of New York said at a March 12, 2009, press conference that he had filed a class charge on behalf of Dontrail Mathis and Karl Mitchell and their coworkers. Named as charging parties in addition to Mathis and Mitchell are John Ellis, Ricky Fore Jr., Chris Hall, Stanrod Johnson, Nina Taylor and John Wilson III.
Turner Industries Group, in a statement released early today, denies the allegations.
“We are disappointed that the EEOC has issued this determination and strongly disagree with the EEOC’s findings,” the release states. “We welcome the opportunity to meet with the EEOC and are confident that meeting will demonstrate the Turner’s Paris, Texas facility is free from any form of discrimination, retaliation, or any other workplace conduct that violates the law.
“Our Paris, Texas facility is not, nor has it ever contained a hostile work environment,” the release states.
Michael Fetzer, director for the Dallas Equal Employment Opportunity Office, stated in the determination letter: “There is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent (Turner) discriminated against the charging parties and a class of similarly situated black employees … by subjecting them to a hostile work environment and disparate treatment.”
The determination letter also states there is “reasonable cause” to believe
Turner retaliated against some of the employees “because of their complaints about discrimination and opposition to practices believed to be unlawful and because of their participation in EEOC’s investigation.”
The letter also cited “reasonable cause” that Turner retaliated against “some other white employees because of their opposition to practices believed to be unlawful or because of their participation in EEOC’s investigation.”
But Turner said it has “extensively investigated the charges, and has determined that no worker nor class of workers was discriminated against based upon their race, or any other legally protected status.
“Furthermore, Turner management has determined that no worker nor class of workers was retaliated against for making complaints, for participating in investigations, or for any other reasons,” the release states.
During the EEOC investigation, the determination letter stated witnesses were interviewed and documents were reviewed.
“I have considered all the evidence disclosed during the investigation and find that there is reasonable cause to believe that Title VII violations occurred. Specifically, the evidence shows that on a regular basis the charging parties and a class of similarly situated black employees were subjected to unwelcome racial slurs, comments and intimidation, racial graffiti, nooses in the workplace and other symbols of discrimination,” Fetzer stated.
The EEOC director also stated some employees made complaints to the corporate office through a Hotline but the company failed to take effective remedial action. Fetzer said evidence indicates one of the employees, Fore, was terminated “after he repeatedly refused to make a statement against one of the charging parties.”
The determination letter further states that some employees were subjected to disparate treatment and because of their race “they were subjected to different terms and conditions of their employment than White employees, including but not limited to disparate job assignments, application of workplace rules and denial of promotional opportunities and other avenues of advancement.”
Turner denies all allegations.
“Turner Industries has a long-standing zero tolerance policy for any behavior in the workplace that disparages any employee,” the organization said. “We remain committed to maintaining a professional atmosphere that reinforces the company’s commitment to equality, fairness and tolerance.”
Copyright © 2010 The Paris News

Dallas Utility Workers Claim Racial Discrimination

The Dallas Water Department tolerates racial discrimination, a hostile work environment and retaliation, according to a new federal lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by 11 African-Americans, one Hispanic and one Asian-American employee.

“It’s business as usual. It’s a good old boy syndrome,” said employee Leroy White.

Among other things, the lawsuit cites a noose displayed in an employee’s car at the Southside Water Treatment Plant two years ago.

Dallas Utility Workers Claim Racial Discrimination
Dallas Utility Workers Claim Racial Discrimination

”Five days later he came with a bigger noose,” said employee Clement Bernard. “He stated it was because he thought I was wrong for making him take the noose out of his truck on city property.”

The city disciplined the employee with the noose and that employee later resigned.

In a prepared statement, city spokesman Frank Librio said the city does not tolerate discrimination.

“The City took corrective measures regarding these situations at the time the allegations were first reported. The City denies that it has engaged in any unlawful conduct,” he said.

The statement said a specific program was developed for the water department to avoid discrimination and a hostile work environment.

But the lawsuit claims discrimination still exists.

“These individuals have raised these complaints with the city of Dallas and with their employers for years,” attorney Jay Ellwanger said. “We’re asking that it stop. We’re asking that our clients be given damages.”

Get More:

Click here to view the lawsuit and click here to read the city’s response.

Employees Sue Dallas for Racism

Employees Sue Dallas for Racism: MyFoxDFW.com

DALLAS – From racial slurs to a hangman’s noose, 13 Dallas employees say they’ve had enough. The group has filed a federal lawsuit, which they say outlines a culture of outright racism.
The plaintiffs filed their suit Wednesday. They include black, Hispanic and Asian workers of Dallas Water Utilities.
The employees claim they were threatened, verbally harassed and intimidated by racist graffiti written on bathroom walls. There was also an incident involving a hangman’s noose dangling from a city vehicle, according to the lawsuit.
A statement from the city of Dallas said officials deny the unlawful conduct.
The city said some of the allegations date back seven years and corrective measures were taken then. The statement also said the Department of Justice declined to file a lawsuit in the case.
Watch FOX 4 Matt Grubs’ video story to hear from both the employees and a city spokesman.

13 workers file discrimination lawsuit against Dallas water department

By RUDOLPH BUSH / The Dallas Morning News [email protected]
Published 17 December 2009 11:56 AM
Thirteen Dallas Water Utilities employees filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against City Hall on Wednesday, alleging a pattern of racial discrimination and retaliation dating back years.
The suit paints a picture of the city’s water department as a racially divided institution where discrimination is a normal practice.
Lead plaintiff Leroy White, a black electrician, said he has been subjected to racial slurs and drawings denigrating blacks as he was passed over for promotions for less qualified white employees.
White and the other plaintiffs said they have long been subjected to more work and higher scrutiny than white employees.
“It’s common practice. It’s just the way things are done in the water department,” White said.
In a statement, a city spokesman responded that City Hall has not acted unlawfully or tolerated discrimination.
“The city has not had an opportunity to review all of the allegations. However, many of the allegations concern specific incidents that are several years old, about which the city took corrective measures regarding these situations at the time the allegations were first reported,” the statement said.
The allegations portray a department where workers are segregated by race and where some white employees resort to threats, bribery and deceit to discredit complaints and keep the plaintiffs from being promoted.
Jay Ellwanger, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he and his clients met with Mayor Tom Leppert and City Manager Mary Suhm earlier this year.
Despite that meeting, nothing was done about his clients’ complaints, he said.
The plaintiffs include 11 blacks, one Hispanic and one Asian.
They are seeking unspecified monetary damages and a correction to the alleged discrimination in Water Utilities, Ellwanger said.
In addition to White, the plaintiffs include Terrence Marshall, Arturo Garza, Clement Bernard, Faye Jackson, James Yellowfish, Jewell Taylor, Kevin Gillum, Kevin McArthur, Marcus Greer, Micheal Roberts, Roderick Tolor and Thai Nguyen.

Paris factory employees file federal racial discrimination, harassment complaint

PARIS, TX ― Another Turner Industries employee has come forward claiming he too is a victim of racial discrimination and harassment. Some African American employees of the Paris plant say they have complained to their supervisors about unfair treatment and threats. Now they are taking their complaints to the federal government. Rita Kotey has more.

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Eric M. – Dallas, Texas

“Racism is a process of evil and ignorance. I began my fight against institutional racism in 2005 when I started working for Allied Aviation in Dallas, Texas. Coming from professional football where color took a backseat to teamwork, I was devastated to see that in this modern age managers and co-workers could not see past the color of skin. I, along with numerous other African-American and Hispanic co-workers, were subjected to constant racial threats, symbols and epithets which left permanent scars that can be forgiven, but not forgotten. The environment was so bad we had no choice but to fight back for our own health and sanity. To me, if you do not stand for SOMETHING, you’ll truly fall for anything.
We could not fight this fight alone, however. We called upon James Vagnini and his firm in New York to lead this fight. Without Valli Kane & Vagnini’s determination and know-how, we would not have made it through. After VKV’s relentless fight, we convinced the Federal Government to join in our fight against Allied and we were ultimately vindicated when the company not only compensated us for the harm they caused, but they were forced to commit to companywide changes and measures that would protect their minority employees well into the future.
In the darkest times at Allied, we learned that knowledge is power and the attorneys at VKV had plenty of it. I am extremely thankful for the attorneys and their tireless effort to see us through this time.”

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