The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has renewed its effort to combat discrimination and harassment in the construction industry, filing in September four federal lawsuits against construction employers, including major specialty contractors such as erector Schuff Steel and mechanical contractor J.A. Croson. Each has been charged with violating federal laws against racial harassment in the workplace.
The lawsuits appear to be part of a stepped-up effort to hold construction employers responsible for supervisors or co-workers who torment Black and Hispanic employees with vulgar, degrading epithets or allow others to do so and retaliate or do nothing when the victims complain. The lawsuits do not include instances of racist graffiti or nooses intended to intimidate employees.