PORTLAND, Ore. – Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian on Thursday announced a $2.4 million settlement between Portland-based Daimler Trucks North America and six former employees who last year filed civil rights complaints alleging violent threats and racism in the workplace.
"Today's settlement sends a strong message that every Oregonian deserves a workplace free from discrimination," Avakian said in a news release. "It's difficult for any worker to step forward in the face of a hostile work environment – and I'm pleased that our agency was able help the parties achieve a just and fair outcome."
The agreement came after investigators with the Bureau of Labor and Industries interviewed more than 60 current and former Daimler employees and supervisors. They also reviewed hundreds of documents related to the North Portland facility's operations, according to BOLI spokesman Charlie Burr.
Avakian said Daimler cooperated with BOLI investigators and took the issues seriously during the investigation.
The complaint, filed September 25, alleged that Daimler failed to take appropriate action after black employees were called racist names including "nigger," "boy," "Toby" and "buckwheat."
A white coworker was also accused of threatening a black Daimler employee with a noose and saying he would drag the employee behind his car.
In addition, a swastika in a Daimler bathroom wasn't taken down in a timely manner, the complaint said.
Two weeks after the first complaint against Daimler, another complaint was released by the Bureau of Labor and Industries. A black employee alleged she was called derogatory names in German, which translated to "fat," "slow," "stupid," and "piggy" by a white female coworker. She also said that, after working at Daimler for a year, a sign was placed on her chair that read "no place for niggers here."
When the woman reported the incidents to her supervisor, she said no action was taken to correct or stop it. She blamed Daimler's "pro-German culture" on creating a hostile work environment for minorities.
Four more employees opened civil rights complaints against Daimler in October.
The monetary settlement is the largest in the history of BOLI's Civil Rights Division, Burr said.
Additional terms of the settlement include an installation of a civil rights complaint hotline for employees, logbooks for future incidents and mandatory supervisor training conducted by BOLI or another entity approved by the bureau.
BOLI will have access to all logbooks and hotline recordings for a three-year monitoring period.
In a statement emailed to KGW, Daimler said it was pleased to resolve the matter with BOLI and the parties involved.
"Daimler Trucks North America is committed to diversity and inclusion including strict attention to the enforcement of human resource policies and guidelines that govern many aspects of our work lives, as well as compliance with federal and local employment laws and regulations," said Brian Burton, general counsel for Daimler.
The agreement also settles a complaint against Daimler filed by the commissioner on behalf of the people of Oregon.
Daimler Trucks North America employs around 20,000 people worldwide.
