Amazing people think they can still pull this kinda ***** off w/o paying
for it. These country 'necks need a serious wake-up call.... of the

slip variety! Fire them ALL.
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Tyson Sued for Maintaining Segregated Work Areas: 'Whites Only' Sign

Padlock Placed on Bathroom Door


ASHLAND, Ala., Aug. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A lawsuit filed today alleges
that Tyson Foods Inc. is responsible for maintaining a segregated
bathroom and break room, reminiscent of the Jim Crow era, in its
Ashland, Ala. chicken processing plant. Twelve African-American
employees filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Alabama, alleging that a "Whites Only" sign and a
padlock denied them access to a bathroom in the Ashland plant. The
complaint states that numerous white employees had keys to the bathroom
that were not provided to African-American workers.

The African-American employees' complaint also alleges that, after they
complained about the segregated bathroom, the plant manager told them
that the bathroom had been locked because they were "dirty" and
announced the closing of the break room. According to the complaint,

same white employees who had keys to the "Whites Only" bathroom formed
their own, private break room, using Tyson materials to construct the
furniture. Initially, a locked door segregated the private break room.
To the present day, locked cabinets and a locked refrigerator maintain

private break room.

"When I was young, my mother used to tell me stories about segregated
bathrooms," said Henry Adams, a plaintiff in this case. "I never

that her reality of seventy-one years ago would become my reality
today."

The lawsuit claims that Tyson violated federal civil rights laws, Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. =A7 1981, by
maintaining a racially hostile work environment and by retaliating
against employees who complained. In addition to the segregated
facilities, plaintiffs claim harassment in the form of racial slurs and
intimidation.

The lawsuit also alleges that Tyson's conduct violates Alabama law
because it constitutes negligent supervision and outrageous conduct.
Plaintiffs' complaint dovetails with a complaint the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") filed earlier today against Tyson in

Northern District of Alabama. The twelve employees in this lawsuit,
including the two individuals that filed the EEOC charges, seek to
intervene in the EEOC action.

Plaintiffs are represented by a team comprised of attorneys from the
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, in Washington, D.C.;
Shearman & Sterling LLP, in New York City; Nakamura Quinn & Walls LLP,
in Birmingham; and Lightfoot Franklin & White, L.L.C., also in
Birmingham. The Lawyers' Committee is a national, not-for-profit
organization, which specializes in civil rights litigation. Plaintiffs
request that any contact from the press be directed to their counsel.