The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Asphalt Paving Systems on Sept. 26, alleging the company created a hostile environment for Black employees in Zephyrhills, Florida.
The EEOC alleges that Asphalt Paving Systems violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1991 by subjecting 12 Black now-former employees — Michael Cheaves, Anthony Clemons, David Cooper, Freddrick Cooper, Broderick Curney, Olusoga Davis, Kendall Gadson, Joseph Haynes, Alvin Matooram, Willie Moore III, David Whipper, and Jack Cornell Youmans to racial harassment in the workplace.
The EEOC claim lays out a litany of allegations against APS, many of which are enumerated below.
According to the lawsuit, the employees were repeatedly called the “N-word” and “boy” by other employees and management. They were also subjected to demeaning working conditions, such as being forced to work in heavy rain while white employees watched. The Black employees were also forced to relieve themselves outside, while white employees were allowed to use the bathrooms indoors.
“Throughout the course of Charging Parties’ employment with APS, they were subjected to racial epithets and racially-charged verbal abuse from white supervisors and co-workers, threatening conduct by white supervisors and co-workers, and being forced to work in demeaning and humiliating working conditions,” the complaint says.
