 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Bus driver files a claim of racial bias
By BRYAN GILMER, Times Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG -- A driver has accused a St. Petersburg bus company of discriminating against him because he is black, and the city of St. Petersburg has found reasonable cause to believe that a violation of the federal Civil Rights Act occurred. Larry E. Holmes said in a complaint that racially derogatory statements were common when he drove for the Martz Group/First Class Coach and that company managers tolerated them and failed to correct a hostile work environment. The complaint also claims that Holmes' wife found a note containing a racial slur on the windshield of their car. The note suggested that Holmes "find your place . . . around here," according to the complaint. A spokesman for the Martz Group declined to comment Wednesday. The city's Community Affairs Department has the authority to enforce local, state and federal discrimination laws. Its finding of reasonable cause gives Holmes the right to appear before a city hearing officer, said his lawyer, Jonathan Alpert of Tampa. Alpert said Holmes is seeking back pay. He resigned his job Feb. 28. "For a long time he was unemployed," Alpert said. "He was pushed out. He finally now has a job as a professional driver paying a lot less. He wants to make sure it doesn't happen again. People are critical when people ask for money, but business responds to money."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
|
