NEWS RELEASE: BOLI expands Daimler civil rights investigation as more employees step forward

[Burr, Charlie]

[cid:image001.png at 01CFEDE1.9B2E48C0]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2014
CONTACT:           Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788

BOLI expands Daimler civil rights investigation as four more employees step forward with allegations
New complaints allege racial abuse, slurs, failure to take corrective action and retaliation

PORTLAND, OR-The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) is expanding its civil rights investigation of Daimler Trucks North America as four more employees have stepped forward to allege unlawful discrimination at the north Portland facility, the agency announced today.
The new civil rights complaints add to the agency's investigation of whether a pattern of racial discrimination and abuse exists at Daimler. In total, nine Daimler employees have open civil rights complaints, in addition to a commissioner's complaint filed by Brad Avakian on behalf of the people of Oregon.
In addition to allegations of racial discrimination against African American employees, the complaints include charges that a Native American employee faced threats of physical violence and intimidation as another employee pushed him against a truck and challenged him to a fight.
Other allegations in the complaints include unfair treatment, discrimination based on race, national origin and age, use of racial epithets, retaliation and failure of management to take appropriate action to improve Daimler's workplace. At least one complainant may have been forced to leave his position because of working conditions at the North Portland facility.
"Our investigators are working hard to determine whether there's evidence of a pattern of severe racial discrimination and abuse," said Brad Avakian. "We have a duty to ensure that employees are treated fairly on the job. Our investigations will be thorough - and if we find substantial evidence, we will aggressively prosecute any unlawful discrimination uncovered."
The complaints can be found on BOLI's website. Earlier employee discrimination complaints against Daimler have included descriptions of racial slurs and physical threats.
BOLI investigators may take up to a year to determine whether there's substantial evidence of unlawful discrimination, although the investigation into Daimler's practices is likely to be concluded before the end of the year.

Visit www.oregon.gov/BOLI<http://www.oregon.gov/BOLI> for more information about all of BOLI's work to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and public accommodations free from discrimination.

###


Charlie Burr
Communications Director
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 1045
Portland, Oregon  97232
Tel:  971-673-0788
Cell: 503-913-5407

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/boli_media/attachments/20141022/13cced8a/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 7699 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/boli_media/attachments/20141022/13cced8a/attachment.png>