Filed under: News, Profiles, Race and Civil Rights
A Rochester, N.Y., roofing firm has agreed to pay $1 million to black workers to end an EEOC lawsuit alleging racial discrimination at the company.
Elmer W. Davis Inc. admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, but don't believe for a second that the government didn't have the goods on some serious racism going on at the giant roofing contracting company. Why else would it pay the $1 million?
Black workers in 2007 said they received unfair work assignments and were harassed when they complained about the racism.
CEO Jeff Davis said his company did nothing wrong but couldn't fight the financial power of the federal government. I doubt that seriously.
One black worker said he was subjected to racist taunts -- and then dismissed when he complained. Another said he was sprayed with tar by a white supervisor. Others said black workers always got the worst assignments. I don't think it was all a coincidence.
Perhaps part of the problem at Elmer W. Davis can be found in the picture of company managers on the corporate Website. Of the eight-member management team, not one woman nor one minority can be found.
I don't think bringing a black person or a woman into top management there will necessarily change the culture of the huge firm, but bringing a qualified minority into the top management chain may send just the message that fairness and equity are going to be taken seriously from now on.