Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 11, 1993 TAG: 9305110152
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY BISHOP STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
\ Two city sewer-line workers have lodged complaints that they were denied promotions because they are black.
Derek Divers, 33, and Willie Jeffries, 38, say that white bosses rejected their applications for better jobs and filled them instead with white workers that Divers and Jeffries helped train.
The men also say that white co-workers utter racist comments on the job and that the department is generally insensitive. As an example, they point to an embroidered picture of Confederate flags hanging in the office of their boss, Jesse Perdue Jr., city utility line services manager.
"His actions as far as displaying his rebel flag on the wall in his office tells me that I, as a black minority, have no chance regardless of knowledge, qualifications or ability, to be considered for a higher position," Divers wrote in a complaint to the city last fall.
The city's personnel manager, Ken Cronin, said officials met with Jeffries on Monday and resolved his grievance "in a way that is acceptable to [Jeffries] and the department."
He declined to say what action had been taken. "It would not be right for me to say what it is before it is announced in the department."
Jeffries - who had been waiting since September for completion of investigations into his allegations - could not be reached for comment Monday.
Cronin said Divers' complaint has not been resolved.
Divers and Jeffries work on small, specialized crews. They say it's hard to transfer their experience to other city units where they might move up more quickly.
Divers, a 1978 graduate of Patrick Henry High School and a military veteran, said he is the third generation in his family to do sewer-line work for the city or the private company that formerly maintained the lines.
He says his supervisor was trained years ago by his father, who did the same work without advancement for 40 years.
Divers, a $16,500-a-year laborer/operator, said he has been rejected for promotions three times in his nine years with the department.
He filed a grievance in September after being denied a $19,000 crew-leader job. He led crews until the city gave the job a title and a higher salary, he said.
City utilities chief Kit Kiser wrote Divers then that the other man was chosen "because he was the better applicant, having shown more potential to follow instructions and carry out assignments, more interest and involvement in the type of duties involved, and less inclined to be argumentative with his supervisor."
In October, city Personnel Administrator James Beatty concurred that in Divers' case, "the perception of discrimination exists but is unfounded."
Beatty said he was told that Perdue did not promote Divers because of absenteeism, "disdain for management and a lack of maturity." Beatty suggested the city give Divers supervisory training so that he might be considered for future promotions.
"I've never been wrote up about my absenteeism," Divers said.
Perdue wrote Divers that he regretted that Divers harbors "such an intense feeling of resentment and discrimination. I assure you that I base all of my decisions on fact and merit. Race, etc., has nothing whatsoever to do with enforcement of rules/regulations or promotions."
Kiser also wrote Divers about the small Confederate flag embroidery, cross-stitched by Perdue's wife, that hangs in a corner behind Perdue's desk.
Kiser wrote, "Mr. Perdue states he is interested in the history of the confederacy and is appreciative of his wife's efforts and gift." But if Divers finds it offensive, Kiser said, a city affirmative action officer would examine it "to determine if it is appropriate for public display."
Willie Jeffries is a 1974 graduate of William Fleming High School and a four-year Marine Corps veteran. He joined the city's sewer rodder crew more than four years ago.
Last summer, he set his sights on a $15,000 job as a "motor equipment operator I." He would have become second in command on his three-man crew, and would have filled in for the crew leader - experience that could prepare him for future advancement.
Before his complaint was resolved Monday, he had said he was stuck at his low salary. "I want to get married, but how can I have a wife on $13,000?" He lives with his mother and helps support his daughter.
He said his bosses hired a younger white man who had been with the city about one-third the time Jeffries had, and who had only two weeks' experience in the work Jeffries has done for four years.
When Jeffries asked why he wasn't chosen, he said a supervisor told him the other man performed better on a driving exercise. The supervisor said Jeffries failed to check his oil during the exercise and did not know where a washing station was located in the city shop.
In October, Jeffries went to Kiser's office, hoping to talk privately with him. When he walked in, he said, Perdue was there.
Jeffries saw Cronin, the city's personnel manager, last fall, too. He said Cronin never got back to him.
"I haven't had no letters from them or nothing," he had said before Monday's meeting. "Just promises, promises, promises."
Divers' and Jeffries' recent annual job evaluations show praise and little disapproval.
"It has always been a pattern with the city that black people just didn't move up," said the Rev. Charles Green, Roanoke NAACP president who's advising Divers and Jeffries on their grievances. About 24 percent of city workers are black, Green said, "but they're in service jobs. They're not in good jobs."
Beatty acknowledged that many of the lowest-paying jobs in the city are held by minorities. "That's the lower echelon of employment," he said, "and that's where you find a lot of minorities."
Herman Haley, 41, has worked in the utility line department for 23 years. He's applied for supervisor's jobs several times, but never rose above crew leader.
He says it's hard for black workers like him to move up. When a black worker is denied a promotion, "They'll tell you the manager came through there one morning and you didn't speak to him - silly stuff like that." Or, he said, the reason is that a man doesn't wear his uniform properly. "They hide behind the rules."
Haley said he filed six or seven grievances against the city, and he believes that, too, has hurt his chances for advancement. "Once you file it," he said, "that's it. Your record turns to mush."
In an interview last month , Perdue said he offers "excellent" opportunities for minorities.
Of eight positions as "crew supervisor II," Perdue said, three are held by black workers. Perdue and three other top administrators in the department are white.
Perdue said that last year he promoted two black workers to crew leaders, a job ranking below crew supervisors. Now, four of 12 crew leaders are black.
"They are doing well; they fit right in. They were the best qualified candidates for those jobs. That's why they were selected. They just happened to be minorities. If you deserve it, you're going to get it."
Perdue's 82-worker department constructs and maintains all water and sewer lines in Roanoke. He said there is little turnover among supervisors, so there are few chances for anyone to be promoted.
When he became department manager 12 years ago, Perdue said, there were no black supervisors. "I think the track record shows that opportunities have been provided and there have been promotions" of minorities, he said.
If workers believe there is racial discrimination, Perdue said, "I think that's a perception of a couple of employees who failed to get promotions and were disappointed."
As conservative talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh talked about racial tension over the radio one afternoon in Perdue's office, Perdue said, "Everybody knows that things are pretty stirred up right now. There's a lot of finger-pointing. It's disruptive to the country and it's disruptive to our department."
He said that when a job came open, a minority worker, whom he would not name, hinted that he would file discrimination charges if he were not promoted.
"I'm not going to be intimidated," Perdue said. "We have to deal on merit, and some people have trouble accepting that."
"Some of the better people I've got here are people of color," Perdue said. "I'd say that in a heartbeat. I've got some real good minorities."
\ Jobs in the Roanoke's Utility Line Services Department
POSITION NUMBER OF POSITIONS SALARY
Manager 1 $49,589
Superintendent 1 39,418
General superintendent 2 33,419
Crew supervisor II 8 26,609
Preventive maint. supervisor 1 26,404
Crew supervisor I 1 24,747
Crewleader 11 19,890
Motor equipment operator II 3 24,025
Motor equipment mechanic II 1 25,226
Motor equipment operator I 7 17,581
Laborer/operator 30 14,245
Laborer 2 15,435
Custodian I 1 14,295
\ Source: Roanoke city budget, 1993-94
by CNB