Opinion ID: 785396
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Racial Slurs and Derogatory Comments

Text: 14 Derogatory Statement by Coordinator Tom Hughes 15 In May 1996, Tom Hughes called McGinest stupid nigger to his face, an epithet that was overheard by Brand. Hughes had referred to McGinest on other occasions as stupid and sparrow brain, and had told McGinest, you should stay in Long Beach where you belong, with your kind. 16 McGinest did not report the May 1996 incident immediately because he was so enraged that he had to leave the building. The next day, McGinest reported to his immediate supervisor, Gary Deason, that Hughes was always calling me a name. However, he did not pursue a formal complaint with the management because of his conviction that it would be futile, because I went to management with several different things and nothing changed, over and over again. 17 Rather, McGinest filed a complaint with the EEOC. Upon receiving a call from the EEOC in July 1997, human resources manager Jeff Nakamura began an investigation of the incident. Nakamura found Hughes's denial that this comment occurred plausible. Based on this belief and the EEOC's refusal to provide him with the name of the witness, Nakamura did not pursue the investigation. Nakamura testified that he waited two years to reinitiate the investigation because in the meantime I thought the agency would be cooperative by sharing with me the name of the witness so I could do a thorough investigation. Once Nakamura did reopen the investigation, he learned the name of the witness by interviewing several employees. After Brand, the witness, confirmed that the epithet had been used, Nakamura determined that disciplinary action should be taken despite Hughes's continued denial. Hughes was counseled against using such words, shown a video on sexual harassment, and received a disciplinary memo. 2 There is no allegation that Hughes engaged in any further objectionable conduct following this discipline. Comment by Supervisor Ledbetter 18 McGinest and Brand testified that in January 1997 Paul Ledbetter, a supervisor, was frustrated that McGinest and his crew were not able to perform a work assignment immediately. They quoted him as saying, The other colored guy who used to work here would jump when I said it. It is a damn shame how it's gone downhill. McGinest reported this incident to management. GTE claims that Ledbetter no longer worked at GTE in 1997. Comments by Coworkers 19 On one occasion, coworker Alex Talmadge said, referring to McGinest, I'll retire before I work for a Black man. Another coworker, Jim Frick, said of McGinest, I refuse to work for that dumb son of a bitch. McGinest complained about these incidents to Roberts and Begg. 20 In 1996 and 1997, McGinest's coworker Daniel DeLeon called Ketchum Aunt Jemima numerous times in the presence of McGinest. DeLeon also referred to McGinest as Ketchum's mammy on a number of occasions. McGinest and a black coworker note that the phrase Aunt Jemima is a racial insult, connoting laziness and servitude. Although Ketchum is white, McGinest explained that the comment was intended to irk McGinest, and was directed at Ketchum because he is friends with black employees. 21 McGinest requested that DeLeon not use this phrase because he found it racist, but was told fuck you in response. McGinest reported the comment both to manager Mike Begg and to supervisor Roberts, who supervised McGinest and DeLeon, but was unaware if any disciplinary action was taken. Human resources manager Nakamura was apparently unaware of this incident until the phone call from the EEOC representative. Following the call, Nakamura questioned DeLeon. DeLeon claimed that he did not intend Aunt Jemima as a racial insult, but rather as a teasing nickname referring to a commercial that emphasized the slowness with which the syrup poured out of the bottle. Ketchum also apparently had a nickname for DeLeon, Biscuit. Nakamura testified that he found DeLeon's explanation plausible, but nonetheless instructed DeLeon to stop using the phrase. 3 There is no allegation that DeLeon continued to use the phrase subsequently. Racist Graffiti 22 McGinest saw racist graffiti on the walls of the men's restroom and in the stalls on multiple occasions. This graffiti included the word nigger, sometimes altered to digger, and the phrase white is right. Other coworkers testified to seeing the phrase PONTIAC, meaning poor old nigger thinks it's a Cadillac, 4 and, in December 2000, nigger go home. Although managers used the same restrooms, the graffiti was not painted over when it appeared and no public action of disapproval was taken. 23 Similar racist graffiti, particularly the word nigger, also was present in GTE switch boxes and in the blockhouse and garage. A coworker noted that one year during Black History Month the word Black was crossed out on a poster and nigger was written in its place. The defaced poster displayed this epithet until the coworker finally removed it three weeks later. 24 McGinest only mentioned this graffiti to management on one occasion, around April 1998. On this occasion, McGinest and a coworker reported to Al Valle that the word nigger had appeared in the bathroom, and Valle promptly spray-painted over it. Later, when supervisor Roberts learned about the incident, he said, Oh well, I guess I'll have to write it again, and then added, Ah, why can't we all just get along, in reference to a statement made by Rodney King after being beaten by Los Angeles police officers. Roberts may not have been aware of the precise nature of the graffiti at the time of these comments, as there is testimony that he was merely told that it was condescending. 25 Following this event McGinest basically stopped using this bathroom ... because I am offended and disgusted with seeing the N word written in the bathroom — I would get upset if I were to see it written. The word nigger and other racist graffiti have continued to appear in the bathroom since this incident. Antidiscrimination Policy 26 Although GTE claims that it has a zero tolerance policy for discriminatory conduct, its written policy, which appears to have been adopted in 1997, says nothing about zero tolerance or about any ramifications for such conduct. Nor does the written policy detail what steps an employee should follow if the employee feels she or he has been subjected to discriminatory conduct, stating only, If you have questions concerning equal employment opportunity, discrimination, or affirmative action, discuss them with your supervisor or human resources representative.