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Several Mitsubishi Electric mechanics have filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that executives regularly ignore workplace racism.
Over the past few years, the plaintiffs say they were subjected to slurs, KKK imagery, swastikas, and other upsetting images which furthered a racist and hateful rhetoric. Unfortunately, plaintiffs say that Mitsubishi Electric executives failed to take action against this workplace racism and added to the problem with racist comments.
Throughout the course of their work at Mitsubishi Electric construction sites, plaintiffs Leiroi Bowie, Craig Martin, Gabriel Ross, and Lavell Roberson were allegedly subjected to “racist images and objects.” Swastikas, KKK imagery, and the n-word were reportedly found around construction sites, including in bathrooms or the general work area.
In some cases, racist images were reportedly perpetrated by coworkers. For example, the mechanic in charge at one site allegedly had a large confederate flag – a symbol often associated with slavery and racism – on his toolbox. This sticker was allegedly found on his toolbox for years and was frequently seen by the plaintiffs.
Other examples of workplace racism were reportedly more overt. For example, in 2018, Ross allegedly observed a black monkey drawn on his construction site. In 2019, he says he found the image of a hanging man near the elevator entrance at his worksite. Earlier this year, Ross says he found “KKK” written in the hallway of his construction site.
Bowie allegedly had similar experiences when he found a hangman image and the n-word at his construction site.
In some of these cases, the upsetting images were reportedly found in the plaintiffs’ workspaces or on their property. Because of this, and because the plaintiffs were the minority in a primarily non-Black workplace, the plaintiffs believe that the images were specifically targeted at them due to their color and race.
“While in some cases not all Plaintiffs were subjected to the same above racist conduct or were present to observe it, they learned of it shortly thereafter therefore contributing to the hostile work environment they had to endure at Mitsubishi,” the Mitsubishi Electric workplace racism class action lawsuit contends.
Unfortunately, supervisors were allegedly unhelpful in these situations and in some cases contributed to the problem. Martin says that he complained to the site supervisor about the racism images he saw. In response, supervisor Gary Butner reportedly denied seeing these images and didn’t investigate the complaint. Later, another worker allegedly overheard Butner saying, “I just got this brand new swastika poster with wings on it.”
Instead of intervening and addressing workplace racism, supervisors allegedly referred to the plaintiffs as “undesirables,” “lazy,” and upsetting racial slurs. Superintendent Kurt Bladecki was reportedly witnessed saying the following racist joke: “How do you get a Black guy out of the tree? Cut the rope.”
Other supervisors allegedly discriminated against the plaintiffs by segregating them and giving them menial cleaning tasks. Instead of performing the tasks they were qualified for, plaintiffs were reportedly told to pass tools to their white coworkers who had far less experience.
Martin says that he also complained about the issues to Mitsubishi Electric’s Human Resources director, only to have the complaints ignored. Despite the plaintiffs complaining to HR as early as 2016, workplace racism allegedly continued unchecked.
Although Bladecki and other employees were eventually disciplined for their ongoing racist behavior, Mitsubishi Electric has allegedly refused to address the bigger issue of workplace racism.
“Defendants failed to take reasonable steps to end the ongoing harassment, and to take adequate remedial measures to prevent the continuing nature of the acts,” the Mitsubishi Electric workplace racism lawsuit argues.
“In this way, Defendants engaged in and ratified the malicious and oppressive acts of racial harassment and discrimination directed at Plaintiffs.”
The plaintiffs say they have been seriously injured by Mitsubishi Electric’s failure to act. Years of “abusive behavior and painful experiences” have allegedly led to depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD in the plaintiffs.
One plaintiff allegedly suffered a stroke from the stress while another had to spend the last year in therapy to help salvage his family from the “emotional trauma” of Mitsubishi Electric workplace racism.
To add insult to injury, the plaintiffs have allegedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result of the defendant’s racist practices.
Have you experienced workplace racism at Mitsubishi Electric or in another job? Share your experiences in the comment section below.
The plaintiffs are represented by Lawrence A. Organ and Navruz Avloni of the California Civil Rights Law Group.
The Mitsubishi Electric Workplace Racism Lawsuit is Leiroi Bowie, et al. v. Mitsubishi Electric US Inc. f/k/a Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA Inc., et al., Case No. unknown, in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Alameda.
Correction: Sept. 11, 2020, an earlier version of this article included incorrect information on the defendant in this lawsuit. The defendant is Mitsubishi Electric not Mitsubishi Motors.
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