Discrimination Suit Settled by Conectiv and Others for $1.65M

Philadelphia, PAA racial discrimination lawsuit was filed by four black workers against Conectiv Energy and three subcontractors. The workers claimed in the lawsuit that the workers had to endure racial slurs, a life-size noose hanging for a week, and Ku Klux Klan graffiti targeted them.

The four men alleged that between the years of 2002 and 2003 they were harassed while working on a construction site at the location of the former Bethlehem Steel. It was here that Conectiv was the owner of the property and the general contractor on a project that was to build a new power plant that was gas-fired.

The men said that the comments they received included, "I think everyone should own one" and "black men can't read or write." The EEOC has stated that there was graffiti written on the walls of portable toilets that were racially derogatory. The comments included such statements that said not being white isn't right and expressed love for the Ku Klux Klan. The EEOC also says that the noose that was made was constructed of heavy rope and was hung in the work area from a beam. The suit alleged that the noose remained for a total of ten days.

EEOC regional attorney, Jacqueline McNair has said that the harassment was quite unconscionable and shocking and that the displaying of nooses will not be tolerated.

The plaintiffs had stated that they have never worked on a site that did not consist of some sort of racial discrimination, but the harassment they received at the Bethlehem site was the worst. One of the plaintiffs said he had to quit his job because he feared being injured while climbing some of the high metal structures.

The lawsuit was brought on in 2005 by the EEOC against Conectiv, Steel Suppliers Erectors Inc., AC Dellovade Inc., and Matrix Services Industrial Contractors for the harassment. The settlement has been divided up amongst each of the defendants. Dellovade is to pay $200,000, Matrix is to pay $450,000, Steel Suppliers is to pay $250,000, and Conectiv is to pay $750,000. This settlement was announced by the EEOC on May 5, 2008 and will be divided accordingly amongst the four men who filed the suit. The men will divide the $750,000 paid by Conectiv, the worker who quit will receive $250,000 from Steel Suppliers, $450,000 will be paid by one of the subcontractors to two of the men, and the rest will be awarded to the fourth.

None of the defendants have admitted any type of guilt. The suit is also calling for Conectiv to revise all policies against discrimination and to post a notice regarding the settlement at all of its work sites and its headquarters. They are also to provide anti-discrimination training to their employees.

M.Q. Riding, a spokeswoman for Connectiv has said that the company is committed to diversity within its workplace. She has also said that the managers were instructed to investigate the claims as soon as the company had learned of the allegations against them.