ROCK HILL, S.C. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced a lawsuit against two interconnected South Carolina trucking companies for allegations of subjecting black employees to a racially hostile work environment.
According to the EEOC, the conditions resulted in the resignation of many of the black employees.
The two companies involved are T-N-T of York County Inc. and TM Trucking of the Carolinas LLC (jointly referred to as "TNT entities"). TNT entities allegedly subjected multiple employees to racial harassment in 2013 and 2014. This harassment included constant use of the “n-word” by the company’s owner, EEOC alleges. The agency also says the owner made derogatory comments about African-Americans.
Rodney Dunlap worked for the company from June 2013 and June 2014, and is one of two employees who filed the charge with EEOC. Dunlap allegedly resigned from his position because he could no longer bear the constant racial harassment.
EEOC seeks damages for a class of current and former black employees.
"An owner's use of the 'N-word' and other racial slurs in the workplace is of tremendous concern to the commission because there is no one more senior in the company to whom the offended employees can complain," said Lynette A. Barnes, regional attorney for EEOC's Charlotte, N.C., District Office.
"EEOC takes a company owner's disregard for the federally protected rights of the company's employees very seriously and will prosecute cases where this occurs."