Bias cases are hitting in record numbers at EEOC. Here is one out of Michigan --
Mark Louks was angered when his boss at Noble Metal Processing in Warren, Michigan used the N-word to refer to a black co-worker.
Mark Louks was angered when his boss at Noble Metal Processing in Warren, Michigan used the N-word to refer to a black co-worker.
Louks, who is white, complained: to his boss, to his union and to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission., and got fired.
"I was brought up to believe that everybody should be treated equally," said Louks, 54, of Eastpointe, telling his story to a reporter for the Detroit Free Press.
Louks is among a growing number of U.S. workers to turn to the EEOC to combat job discrimination. The agency received a record 99,947 complaints last year -- a 20.7% increase since 2007. It also obtained $513.6 million in compensation and other benefits for workers.
In 2008, the EEOC sued Noble in federal court, accusing it of repeatedly denying promotional opportunities to nonwhites and of retaliating against Louks.
The company denied the charges, but settled out of court in 2010, paying $190,000 to Louks and several minority workers.
The EEOC would have required the firm to launch an anti-discrimination training program, but it went out of business. Its lawyer wouldn't comment, writes David Ashenfelter for the Detroit Free Press.
Louks told Ashenfelter he has struggled since the firing to find steady work, but has no regrets: "Somebody had to stand up."
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