A pending court case alleges that workers at a GM plant hung nooses and posted racist graffiti at GM Powertrain & Fabrications in Toledo, Ohio, from 2015 through 2018. As part of an ongoing investigation, GM has offered $25,000 to anyone who comes forward with information about the case, according to USA Today. The reward has been in place since January, and is administered through a CrimeStoppers program organized by Toledo police and the FBI.
Nine black employees reported racial aggression starting in spring 2017. The case has been in the legal system for nearly two years, with a court date not yet set. In turn, GM has said it closed the plant for one day of antidiscrimination training. Michelle E. Vocht of Roy, Shecter & Vocht, representing the plaintiffs, said in a conversation with Manufacturing.net that the plant was never closed.
Four of the plaintiffs filed complaints with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission before the case was brought to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in April 2018.
"We have zero tolerance for discrimination, and we’re doing everything we can to identify the culprit. This is another step we’ve taken, working with police to intensify the investigation," GM said in a statement to the Free Press. "We’re outraged that anyone would face threats, and our hearts go out to anyone affected by this bigotry."
The Toledo plant employs about 1,700 people, making 6-speed and 8-speed rear-wheel-drive transmission and 6-speed front-wheel-drive transmissions.
Image credit: General Motors
