Herzog, others sued for discrimination, harassment
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Six construction workers have sued Herzog Contracting Corp. and its partners for racial discrimination and harassment while working on a public transportation project in Kansas City, Missouri.
The lawsuit was filed in a Jackson County, Missouri Circuit Court in late June. The matter was referred to federal court earlier this month.
The plaintiffs include Javier Buendia, Jonas Buendia, Oliver Curry, Carl Hunt, Joseph Martin and Charles Watkins. The defendants named were Herzog, Stacy and Witbeck, an engineers' union and a laborers' union. Also named as defendants were three individuals, Bryce Shields of Savannah, Missouri, Joseph Ayers of Maysville, Missouri and Chris Greenwood of Shawnee, Kansas.
To clarify, Shields is not related to Missouri District 11 Rep. Brenda Shields.
The plaintiffs, all minority workers, said they were subjected to continual harassment at various job sites while working on the KC Streetcar project. The group claims they were subjected to:
- Racial epithets
- Derogatory and racially charged names
- Threats of physical violence
- Actual physical assault
- Sexual harassment
- Association with a white nationalist group. The plaintiffs allege that one foreman on the project was a member of the Proud Boys
The lawsuit listed dozens of instances in which the plaintiffs were subjected to this treatment.
The plaintiffs also allege, when they complained to company supervisors or union officials, their complaints were ignored and they were retaliated against.
The plaintiffs are all seeking monetary damages.
No hearing dates have been set in federal court.
