Federal transportation officers are investigating complaints of office harassment, discrimination and unfair remedy made by a gaggle of girls who work on the MBTA.
The group, which is looking itself the Concerned Women within the MBTA Engineering and Maintenance Track Department, met with the Federal Transit Administration on Sept. 12 and 19 to report quite a few complaints that they are saying have fallen on deaf ears on the T.
The girls, who want to stay nameless, stated those that report office harassment to the MBTA’s Office of Diversity and Civil Rights usually face retaliation.
“The matter has been referred and is currently being investigated by our headquarters-based civil rights team,” stated FTA Administrator Peter Butler in an e-mail that was shared with the Herald.
On Sunday, the group despatched a letter to MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak, requesting a gathering with him to share their tales.
In their letter, the ladies stated it grew to become clear throughout their conferences with the FTA that the MBTA’s civil rights workplace is understaffed, resulting in a backlog of unanswered complaints, and that the T could also be in noncompliance with federally regulated equal employment alternative insurance policies.
“We are requesting a meeting as soon as possible to create a safe work environment for those of us who have valid concerns,” the group wrote. “Women have had to suffer through years of unchecked behavior from men within the department.”
After reporting incidents, the ladies stated they’re handled like downside workers.
By comparability, in instances the place the MBTA finds fault has been dedicated by a male worker, disciplinary motion is never taken, and the offending worker is “simply moved to another location.”
One girl who works within the division instructed the Herald that supervisors have made it clear that their issues ought to keep within the yard, and shouldn’t be reported “downtown.”
The girls stated they’ve been accused of performing sexual favors for promotions, verbally berated by a supervisor in entrance of coworkers, spat upon and handled with indifference after reporting complaints. The girls additional say they’ve been suspended, focused by harassment, and handed over for promotions, based on their preliminary communication with the FTA in July.
MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo stated every grievance is reviewed by the MBTA’s Office of Diversity and Civil Rights. He stated the T has issued a number of equal employment alternative insurance policies, that are monitored by the ODCR and are aimed toward selling an “inclusive, professional workplace.”
“The MBTA values the contributions of all employees and fully supports its diverse workforce in making those contributions in an atmosphere of dignity and mutual respect,” Pesaturo stated. “The MBTA works diligently to ensure that discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace is not tolerated.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”