United Parcel Service Drivers File Charges with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Claiming Race, National Origin & Gender Discrimination and Retaliation Announces Leeds, Morelli & Brown

CARLE PLACE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2004--Ten United Parcel Service Drivers from Long Island and Queens filed charges of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on May 17, 2004. The employees, many of whom have been employed by UPS for ten years or more, are alleging a pattern and practice of discrimination at UPS on the basis of race, gender, national origin and retaliation.

A notable example of such treatment is an African-American female who worked in Maspeth, Queens. This woman claims she was continually subjected to unsolicited and unwanted sexual advances and behavior, such as whistling, leering, and rude and offensive comments. Comments such as "smile for me mommy", "look at those titties", and "look at that bitch", were commonplace and occurred on a daily basis. She complained to management, security, and Human Resources, but no corrective action was taken. Separately, after filing a complaint with OSHA regarding her working conditions, she was labeled a "troublemaker" and terminated in September 2003, after working for the Company for over ten (10) years.

“These employees are hardworking, dedicated individuals who have been subjected to unacceptable working conditions at the hands of an insensitive and negligent management team”

In UPS's Uniondale location, a White male Management Team continually subjects minority employees to a hostile and discriminatory work environment, according to Leeds, Morelli & Brown. Black and Hispanic Drivers are steered into territories and accounts based on their race and national origin. Specifically, they are sent into Urban areas such as New Cassell and Roosevelt and are told "they can handle those types of areas." In addition, several of the minority Drivers have been subjected to violence and profanity by their Supervisors, and they are routinely set up for failure. Those that survive the initial attempt to drive these minorities out, then must endure baseless allegations of stealing or drug abuse, and unmanageable workloads that have led to injuries taking them out of the workplace. While these employees have voiced their concerns of discrimination to management, as well as to their union, their complaints have been ignored and there has been no action by management to correct these serious wrongdoings.

"These employees are hardworking, dedicated individuals who have been subjected to unacceptable working conditions at the hands of an insensitive and negligent management team," said Lenard Leeds, senior partner of Leeds, Morelli & Brown, P.C. and counsel for the 10 charging parties. "We are putting the Company on notice that disparity in the workplace will no longer be tolerated and we will continue to pursue this action until the proper changes are accomplished."