NJ probes claim of union discrimination

Black worker says white laborers given plum jobs

By: Steve Janoski
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... State authorities have issued a finding of probable cause in support of a Black ironworker's claims that union leadership routinely discriminated against her by awarding desirable construction jobs - such as the building of East Rutherford's American Dream mall - to white laborers instead of Black laborers, the Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday. [09/06/2022]
..... Filed by the state's Division of Civil Rights, the finding also said Bloomfield-based Ironworker Local 11 and its former business manager, Raymond Woodall, broke state discrimination laws by tolerating racial slurs in the union hall and retaliating against a Black member who objected, according to a statement from acting state Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
..... The local has denied the allegations, the statement said. The union did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday. [09/06/2022]
..... The finding, which concluded the state's preliminary investigation, means there is enough evidence to pursue a case, the Attorney General's Office said. The parties will likely try to resolve the dispute at conciliation. If that doesn't work, the case may move to either a state court or the Office of Administrative Law.
.... Platkin said in the statement that he was "deeply troubled" by the allegations.
..... "No New Jerseyan should ever be subject to racial slurs or discriminatory treatment - in the workplace or anywhere else, Platkin said.
..... "If employers or labor unions, and their leaders, fail to create a work environment free from discrimination, we will hold them accountable."
..... As the business manger, Woodall doled out jobs to union workers who lined up early day for work, according to the complaining worker.
..... But he froze Black workers out of long-term projects tat provided steadier wages, the complaint said. Among these were jobs at American Dream, Newark Airport, the Goethals Bridge and the Bayonne Bridge.
..... The complainant confronted Woodall about allegedly using racial slurs, the statement said. After that, the "quality and duration of her work assignments diminished," Platkin added.
..... The state investigation also allegedly found another Black female ironworker - who has since left the local - who claimed she was the target of racial slurs, was locked in a bathroom for hours at a time, was smacked on the buttocks and was given a pink hardhat.
..... The worker told authorities she reported the harassment to higher-ranking union officials a half-dozen times, Platkin said, but no one put a stop to the abuse.

HOME