Opinion ID: 430902
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Don Thomas

Text: 79 Plaintiff Don Thomas was hired by defendant as a Helper B and was initially assigned to do sweeping and grinding. At the time Thomas was hired, there were approximately four other blacks on the second shift of Thomas' department, all of whom were assigned to sweep and grind with the exception of LaSalle Phymes who was occasionally assigned to assist a fitter. Thomas complains that white employees who were hired at the same time were permitted to practice for the welding ASME Code tests during working hours with the help of the welding instructor while he was permitted to practice welding only during his lunch break and without the aid of the welding instructor. Thomas also contends that he was repeatedly denied an opportunity to take the welding test and that even after he was finally permitted to take the test and was promoted from Helper B to Welder C, he was still required to perform sweeping and grinding duties. He complains that he was permitted to assist a skilled fitter only for brief periods when a white employee was absent. 80 Thomas asserts that once he was finally allowed to assist A Welders he continuously performed the same job assignments as an A Welder, but was retained in the lower C classification. Thomas complains that despite his numerous requests to take the Welder A test, he was refused the opportunity to do so. He was finally allowed to take the test for promotion from Welder C to B, which he passed, but he was still retained in the C classification for several months. He contends that he obtained his A classification only after speaking with the plant manager. 81 The district court found that Thomas was assigned to assist welders in the A classification in accordance with company policy and in order to allow Thomas to increase his own skill and ability by working with the A classification workers. We conclude that the record supports the district court's finding that Thomas' progression rate was comparable to that of other employees at the plant, and that he was promoted on the basis of his skill and ability, and that his progress was not delayed because of his race. 82 We accordingly reject Thomas' individual claim that Wyatt discriminated against him in violation of Title VII and Sec. 1981.