May 13th 2024.
The City of Chicago has made a tentative decision to settle a lawsuit and pay out $5.8 million to 12 Black employees who have endured a hostile and racist work environment at the city's water department. This settlement was reached on May 6, nearly a month before the scheduled trial in federal court. However, the approval of the Chicago city council is still needed for the settlement to be official.
According to CBS News, the lawsuit states that the 12 employees have faced humiliation, harassment, and discrimination on a daily basis from their white co-workers and supervisors. The attorney for the Black employees, Victor Henderson, expressed that the racism was evident and pervasive throughout the organization, starting from the top. He also pointed out that this discrimination has been going on for decades, leaving many Black employees wondering why the city's leaders did not take action. Henderson concluded by saying, "Shame on them."
The lawsuit also reveals that the white managers in the water department had a policy that allowed for African-American employees to be treated with disrespect, denied opportunities for advancement and additional pay, and harassed without any consequences. This policy was not only communicated but also condoned by the leaders of the department. The lawsuit further alleges that these leaders not only promoted but also engaged in racially discriminatory behavior, including using racial slurs and making derogatory remarks. If any of the Black employees objected to these working conditions, they were disciplined.
The lawsuit also exposes a system within the department that resembled the segregation laws of the Jim Crow era. "Observing the discriminatory pattern of treatment of African-American employees and hearing the racially derogatory language, other Caucasian employees learned that racially discriminatory behavior would not only be tolerated but encouraged," the lawsuit states. As a result, the department's culture was one of racism and discrimination, and this was reinforced by a system that favored white employees over Black employees. For instance, injured white workers were allowed to work under a light-duty designation, while injured Black workers were forced to return to full-work duty. In addition, when Black workers exhausted their worker's compensation benefits, they were forced to retire with less than full retirement benefits.
In 2018, during an investigation conducted by Chicago's Inspector General, several racist emails were uncovered. These emails contained offensive and derogatory remarks about President Barack Obama, the Black Lives Matter movement, and Black NASCAR drivers. One email stated that President Obama would not be making any more public speeches in Texas because "some South Texas cotton farmers start bidding on him" every time he gives a speech. Another email listed ten reasons why Black NASCAR drivers would not work, including "Pistol won't stay under front seat," "Engine noise drowns out the rap music," and "They keep trying to carjack Dale Earnhardt Jr." These emails were not just between colleagues but also between city workers, with one email expressing the desire to "eradicate" Black Lives Matter supporters and "idiots and criminals" who back them.
When contacted for a comment on the settlement, a spokesperson for the City Law department declined to provide one. It is also unclear when the Chicago city council will vote on this matter. This case serves as a reminder that discrimination and racism still exist in our society and that companies must take proactive measures to prevent and address such behavior. It is our responsibility to create an inclusive and equitable work environment for all employees, regardless of their race, gender, or any other factor.
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