The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in downtown Kansas City, Kansas finds itself embroiled in a web of controversy as Eric Lindsey, a longtime carpenter with the organization since 2012, has filed his 10th discrimination lawsuit against the utility. In the new legal clash, Lindsay, who is Black, claims to have endured continued harassment, highlighting a troubling pattern within the BPU
The allegations come as Lindsay filed a federal lawsuit this Tuesday that reveals a harrowing tale of racial and disability discrimination within BPU. The incident marks the 10th lawsuit against the utility that sharpens the spotlight on its workplace practices
Over the past year the BPU has faced several lawsuits, each of which paints a troubling picture of a workplace plagued by discriminatory behavior. The nature of the allegations varied, ranging from racial slurs to discriminatory comments and biased investigations but collectively pointed to a hostile work environment. When coworkers mustered the courage to speak out, one even accused the coworker of making racist comments while the other accused the supervisor of making (racist and sexist comments). Additionally, a separate lawsuit highlighted claims of disability discrimination within the organization.
The unified government that took over the reins of the utility company also found itself in the legal crossfire. In 2022, five employees took legal action against Unified Government, asserting racial discrimination at the hands of coworkers, a hostile work environment created by supervisors, and targeted investigations. Adding fuel to the fire, a ninth lawsuit surfaced earlier this month where a woman alleged she was unjustly passed over for a job, and denied the same opportunities her white coworkers were freely given. They went.
Lindsay’s lawsuit sheds light on the troubling nuances in which the finger has been pointed at fellow employees who have allegedly admitted racist attitudes. Examples were highlighted of disrupting work, removing necessary equipment and placing Lindsay in dangerous tasks without proper information. One shocking incident involved the removal of a breaker from an electrical panel, preventing Lindsay from providing the necessary ventilation during her work with the material
February 2022 brought another shocking revelation when Lindsey, hired to remove floors, was found to have asbestos present only after the fact, nearly three months after she faced abusive abuse from a co-worker related to developmental disabilities, the lawsuit alleges was discriminatory, humiliating. and paints a vivid picture of a series of atrocious incidents that were allegedly planned and executed by the Unified Government
Despite Lindsay’s efforts to bring these concerns to light through numerous complaints, she claims little was done and in some cases she faced retaliation. The BPU, represented by spokesperson David Mehlf, has decided not to comment on the pending litigation in order to consider the implications of these serious allegations against a vital public utility for the Kansas City community and beyond