Caucasian man accuses Wackenhut of racial bias 7/27/2010 11:16 PM By MIKE GELLATLY Staff writer
A Caucasian man is claiming that he was the subject of racial discrimination at the hands of the security contractor at the Savannah River Site, Wackenhut Services Inc. (WSI).
Marvin Timothy Oerman filed a complaint Monday in U.S. District Court, claiming that he was demoted from a management position, suffering loss of pay, stature and future career prospects in order to promote a minority employee.
"Defendant's actions towards Plaintiff are consistent with its pattern and practice during the WSI-SRS reorganization, which targeted and impacted white males in a discriminatory and adverse manner," the suit reads.
Oerman stated that he was a manager in WSI's training division at SRS, alongside two others - a white female and a black man who he identified only by sex and race.
In early 2010, the suit states WSI-SRS began discussing a reorganization. In this, Oerman claims to have been told that more minority candidates were to be brought in at supervisory and management levels to compensate for upper management at the private security company being dominated by Caucasian males.
Despite his experience and work record, individuals at WSI-SRS informed Oerman that he was not even considered for a manager position because of his race, and this was reaffirmed to him after an alternative candidate was put in place.
"We have not received official notification of a lawsuit, but I can tell you that we are in full compliance with applicable legal requirements, and that there has been no discrimination," Rob Davis with external affairs for WSI-SRS said. "However, we do not comment on the specifics of pending or ongoing litigation."
As the suit was only filed Monday, WSI was not officially served with it until Tuesday.
The claim is not the first of race discrimination at the long-time SRS security contractor.
Lagone Melton of Hephzibah, Ga., a black male, filed a federal claim against WSI in late 2009 claiming he was treated differently and more severely than white colleagues in similar disciplinary actions. WSI has denied all claims made by Melton in court filings.
WSI has been SRS' security contractor since 1983 and recently signed a $989 million contract to continue to do so for the next decade.
Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.
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