Whites Only Bathroom at Tyson Plant
excerpts from “Tyson Foods Sued For Maintaining Segregated Work Areas” BlackNews.com, 8/31/05
Whites Only Sign and Padlock Placed on Bathroom Door
Ashland, AL (BlackNews.com) - A lawsuit alleges that Tyson Foods, Inc. is responsible for maintaining a segregated bathroom and break room, reminiscent of the Jim Crow era, in its Ashland, Alabama chicken processing plant.
Thirteen African-American employees filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama late last week, alleging that a Whites Only sign and a padlock denied them access to a bathroom in the Ashland plant. The complaint states that numerous white employees had keys to the bathroom that were not provided to African-American workers.
The African-American employees’ complaint also alleges that, after they complained about the segregated bathroom, the plant manager told them that the bathroom had been locked because they were dirty and announced the closing of the break room. According to the complaint, the same white employees who had keys to the “Whites Only” bathroom formed their own, private break room, using Tyson materials to construct the furniture. Initially, a locked door segregated the private break room. To the present day, locked cabinets and a locked refrigerator maintain a private break room.
The lawsuit claims that Tyson violated federal civil rights laws, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. 1981, by maintaining a racially hostile work environment and by retaliating against employees who complained. In addition to the segregated facilities, plaintiffs claim harassment in the form of racial slurs and intimidation. The lawsuit also alleges that Tyson’s conduct violates Alabama law because it constitutes negligent supervision and outrageous conduct.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:02 am
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http://www.tysonfoodsinc.com/Contact.aspx