Founded in 1983 - United for Diversity and Racial Equality

NIXING THE N-WORD: WORKER FILES CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT AGAINST EMPLOYER



Montreal, September 30, 2013--- CRARR has filed a civil rights complaint on behalf of a English-speaking mechanic who was repeatedly called the N-word by his boss on the job.

The worker, Ted (not his real name), who looks white but is of mixed African ancestries, started to work in 2010 with a trucking company north of Montreal which had some Hispanic and Arab workers. Ted‘s mixed heritage was known to people at work.

Right after his first days at work, his direct supervisor started to make jokes and openly referred to him as “the N-.” As a new employee, Ted wanted to avoid complications so he learned to ignore the slurs. Over time, however, racial slurs and jokes continued, often in front of other workers and the company’s customers.

Since he was not unionized, Ted was afraid of losing job and tried to ignore these racist remarks. Some of his co-workers did show their disapproval of such slurs, but were also fearful about their jobs and could not do much to stop these unwelcome remarks.

After an injury at work in 2012, Ted went on leave and decided afterwards, not to tolerate anymore the racially poisoned work environment and his supervisor’s open denigration. He mandated CRARR to help him file a civil rights complaint against his supervisor and his employer, claiming moral and punitive damages and requiring, as a remedy, that the company adopt an antiracist policy, implement mandatory civil rights training, and issue an apology to him for the racial abuse and humiliation which he endured on the job.