City officials and residents of Berkley, California participated in a meeting focused on complaints of discrimination made by Berkley employees. One focus of the meeting was a report released by a firm that investigated 20 complaints made by Berkley employees to the NAACP. The meeting also called attention to a union survey that found half of 300 employees questioned reported experienced and/or witnessing discrimination in the workplace. Numerous allegations have been made that the city has paid white male employees more than other employees, manipulates job criteria in favor of certain employees, and discourages African American employees from seeking job promotions. Discriminatory hiring processes violate employees’ civil rights. The allegations involved discrimination based on race and gender. While these allegations of discrimination were acknowledged at the meeting, the question remains as to how the city should proceed. Berkley’s action plan involves training management that is in charge of hiring employees, providing diversity training and workshops on equal employment opportunities, and auditing the human resources department. One councilmember proposed a whistleblower ordinance. Some feel that an action plan developed by the city is a premature decision and that more research and more investigations are needed to prevent future employment discrimination.
Source: Melissa Wen; From The Daily Californian
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