BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently ruled in favor of several Black employees. Four employees filed claims of harassment.

Attorney J. Jacques A. Darius said, “On September 7, the EEOC found that Flatiron Tidewater Skanska (FTS) Construction Company violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by subjecting Black employees to racial harassment and a racially hostile environment. FTS is a joint venture of Flatiron Construction Company and Skanska USA, which handled the Tampa Airport Interchanges construction between 2005 and 2010.”

The EEOC ruled that Demetrius L. Catuey alleged that not only was he a victim of racial harassment, but he was retaliated against by being terminated after filing a report.

The investigator said, “Based upon the evidence of record obtained during the investigation, there is reasonable cause to believe that violations of Title VII have occurred. The evidence establishes that Charging Party (Catuey) was subjected to racial harassment and a racially hostile environment.

Cyril M. Padgett filed a complaint alleging that during his employment that he was denied training opportunities and the opportunity to apply for an open Foreman position because of his race. He also alleged that he was terminated after filing a harassment complaint.

[private]The investigator wrote in his report that the evidence there is reasonable cause to believe violations of Title VII had occurred.

Bennie Woods stated that he, too, was terminated after filing a report of harassment.

Ms. Myra C. Johnson stated that she was discriminated against because of her race and that she was subjected to sex harassment.

The investigator said the evidence obtained was insufficient to establish a violation of Title VII in regards to the individual sexual harassment and racial harassment issues.

However, he said that “Although the evidence does not support the Charging Party’s (Johnson) allegation of racial harassment towards her, the evidence of record reveals there is cause to believe that similarly situated individuals have been subjected to harassment and a hostile work environment based on their race.”

The investigator said in his report that all four employees were referred to by derogatory, racial names. “The investigation revealed that white supervisors and white co-workers subjected Black employees to racial comments and slurs including, “monkey,” “DAN” (dumb a—ni—), and “nig–,” the investigator wrote.

The company was invited to participate in an attempt to resolve the matter with the victims.[/private]