Wednesday, November 8, 2000
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Wednesday, November 8, 2000 |
| PTC plant accused
of denying promotions to black employees
By JOHN
MUNFORD
The corporation owning a Peachtree City electronics plant is being sued in federal court for allegations of racial discrimination in how it awards promotions to employees. Matsushita Communications Industrial Corporation, which manufactures Panasonic products, is being sued by three current employees and one former employee. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Newnan, alleges that each man was passed over several times for promotions in favor of a white worker who was less qualified than they were. Matsushita employees Frederick Butler, Regie Stevens, Mohammed Warsame and ex-employee Thomas Green are seeking to have the suit elevated to class-action status. In December, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found "reasonable cause to believe black employees were discriminated against because of their race with regard to promotional opportunities at or above the level of Technician A," the suit states. The employees also allege that the company did not post all available positions, a tactic that was used to promote white employees over more qualified African-American applicants. "Even when the positions were posted, white managers often 'pre-select' white employees to fill open positions," the suit alleges. The employees hope to recover back pay, front pay along with compensatory and punitive damages. The suit claims the discriminatory practices began coming to light in 1995 when several employees didn't receive promotions they applied for. At least two of the defendants complained about the perceived discrimination against African American employees and those employees were retaliated against, the suit states. In the suit, Butler claims he was also paid between $10,000 and $15,000 less than a white employee in the same position who had the same degree from the same school. Even after Butler was promoted to associate engineer, he was still paid approximately $2,500 below normal starting pay given to white entry level associate engineers, the suit alleges. Green was not promoted at all during his eight years with the company, according to the suit. Stevens was promoted only once in his 10 years of employment, the suit states. Warsame alleges in the suit that black employees were written up for safety violations and tardiness while other white workers were not cited for similar violations.
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