Former manager at Whole Foods files racial discrimination lawsuit
A former meat manager at Whole Foods in Portland has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the company, saying it did nothing to stop racial harassment and intimidation from other workers.
The Portland Press Herald reported that William Apire of Portland, a Sudanese immigrant who is now a U.S. citizen, said in the federal lawsuit filed Friday that he was subjected to repeated racial harassment, intimidation and name-calling during the five months he supervised four white employees in the store’s meat department. He began working at the Portland Whole Foods in May 2007, but he says the harassment didn’t begin until February 2013, shortly after he was promoted to a management position.
Apire claims his supervisors only reaction to the harassment was to tell him to ignore it. The lawsuit says Apire was fired by the company in July 2013 after the employees who are alleged to be the source of the harassment complained about him to senior managers.
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a right-to-sue finding on Aug. 21, according to the Press Herald.
Apire, who is represented by Portland attorney John Branson, is seeking a jury trial and compensatory damages.
A Whole Foods spokeswoman told the Press Herald on Monday that the company couldn’t comment on the case because it had not yet been served with the lawsuit.
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