DES MOINES, IA—
Nine Iowans have joined a lawsuit, which now includes 32 African-Americans, suing the state for racial discrimination.Charles Zanders had applied for a telecommunications job with the Iowa Communications Network. He said he ended up applying four separate times for two positions that listed two times each. Zanders didn't figure he would have problems getting the job, since he had retired after 29 years working for Qwest. But he laments, "Never got an interview."
Zanders became so frustrated he said he half-thought of changing how he filled out the applications. He said, "It got the point where the African-American you check on the boxes. I honestly...I almost started just putting white down...at least get an interview. But why should I have to do that?"
Zanders had a friend who worked in that office who told him lesser-qualified applicants were able to get interviews and eventually got those jobs. And they all happened to be white. That's when he decided it was time to take on the state. Zanders said, "Honestly, I was angry."
Zanders soon found himself a position, far from the one he wanted. He had now become a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state that failed to find him a job. Plaintiffs allege a host of charges including:
State government failed to hire, retain and promote African-Americans.
Managers take race into account in employment decisions.
They provide false or misleading reasons to African-Americans to deny promotions...
They fail to encourage diversity.
The state hires managers known to discriminate against African-Americans.
Managers retaliate against those who complain.
They make employment decisions based on racial stereotypes.
Zanders' attorney, Tom Newkirk, said, "They took steps to cover it up, rather than fix the problem, identify the problem and fix it."
Newkirk said while Governor Culver's office ordered $250,000 in diversity training, it has not changed attitudes and practices. He cites a lack of leadership from the governor's office to bring the change that is needed. He said, "A lot of discrimination problem could be solved simply by a strong leader walking in and saying to a manager, 'Get your act together. I'm going to hold you accountable. I'm going to fire you.'"
Zanders knows when some see his lawsuit, they think he wants money. But he said, what he wants is change. Zanders said, "If not a penny comes out of it, but change comes out of it for my kids and grandkids some meaningful change...I don't mean me being the sacrificial lamb. But some meaningful change comes out of it...then justice has been done."
Newkirk said the lawsuit has recently uncovered a report from the Department of Administrative Services and Workforce Development that someone changed reports to try to hide racial discrimination. He maintains that shows a pattern of trying to cover this up. He said his office only learned of the falsified reports during the discovery phase of the legal process.
Governor Culver's office sent Channel 13 a statement on these latest allegations. It said the issues predate his office and said, because of the ongoing investigation, it can't address the specific allegations. But a spokesman released a statement:
"Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge believe that discrimination have no place in state government, and have worked hard since taking office to increase diversity throughout the state. Through the governor's 4th executive order, state employees are receiving diversity training and the diversity council which was created by the order is leading our efforts to expand diversity throughout state government. The governor and lt. governor will continue to keep on working to make state government inclusive of all people and make our state a welcoming place for everyone."
