Joliet workers file bias complaint over racist graffiti

Workers from a warehouse in Joliet filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Thursday, alleging that Schenker Logistics Inc. has repeatedly refused to address discrimination claims and created a hostile work environment.

The workers said the discrimination stems from racist graffiti, including swastikas and KKK signs, painted in the break room walls and in the men's bathroom.

Angela McDonald, who works the third shift at the warehouse, said the graffiti appeared about eight to nine months ago. Since then, she and other workers have pleaded with managers to find the culprit or culprits and remove the offensive drawings, she said.

But while some of the drawings have been painted over, most are still visible.

McDonald's eyes welled up at a press conference as she displayed photos of a black swastika with a circle around it and of a white pickup truck with Confederate flags on the windows.

"It makes me upset that this is going on still as of today," McDonald said in an interview with the Tribune.

McDonald, who is black, said she makes $12.63 per hour loading and unloading candy boxes from Kraft Foods Inc. at the warehouse operated by Schenker. Kraft contracts Schenker for storage and distribution.

Raquel Garcia, director of marketing communications for Schenker, said the company has not seen a copy of the charges. But she said Schenker will review and investigate the allegations when it does.

Joyce Hodel, a Kraft spokeswoman, said in a statement that Kraft expects its suppliers and business partners to comply with the law. However, she said that the company wasn't familiar with the complaint and directed further questions to Schenker Logistics.

Christopher Williams, an attorney representing the workers, said the commission will next investigate the allegations and decide whether it would prosecute or give the workers the right to sue. Most of the workers are black or Hispanic.

Williams said he has seen an increase in complaints from employees of subcontractors since the recession began.

In this case, most of the about 80 workers at the warehouse are employed by Schenker, Williams said. The rest are temps, working for ProLogistix, a staffing agency.

Schenker workers also complained about being denied opportunities to advance to higher-paying jobs. Some of the female workers also alleged to have been sexually harassed by a coworker. When they complained, the coworker was promoted, according to the charges.McDonald said she has been trying to get promoted since she started her job three years ago, but because she complained about the company's work environment, management would not consider her application.

"I like my job; I just don't like the situation," she said, adding that she wants to go home at night without fearing a coworker might hurt her because of her race.

Nearly 40 percent of Will County warehouse workers have reported discrimination, according to a report published last year by Warehouse Workers for Justice. The report also found that 63 percent of the workers are temps, receiving low wages with few benefits.