Peoples Gas has been accused in a new class action lawsuit of allegedly discriminating against Black employees, allegedly subjecting them to a hostile work environment.
"Peoples Gas subjects its African American employees to a relentlessly hostile work environment, where they are targeted with racial harassment and slurs, including being called the n-word, forced to follow different rules than non-Black employees, and their safety and lives are not valued," says the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The company, which serves 800,000 customers in the Chicago area, allegedly steers its African American
employees to "dangerous working conditions without adequate security," and forces African American customers to dig up their own gas service lines reconnection, "a dangerous and demeaning endeavor," the lawsuit alleges.
Black employees are paid less, disciplined more and denied promotions due to their race the lawsuit states.
"Perhaps worse, Peoples Gas segregates and assigns Black employees to more dangerous locations and jobs, and
denies them potentially life-saving security, pursuant to company practices and deeply racist views about African Americans," it alleges.
The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages plus legal fees.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorney Suzanne E. Bish, of Stowell & Friedman Ltd., of Chicago.