Employees speak out on 6 lawsuits alleging racial discrimination in state DOT

Road maintenance workers say the suits allege ongoing racial mistreatment of minority employees at different DOT facilities across the region.

News 12 Staff

Jun 15, 2020, 1:48 AM

Updated 1,770 days ago

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State workers spoke out Sunday about six lawsuits alleging racial discrimination in the Connecticut Department of Transportation.
Road maintenance workers say the suits allege ongoing racial mistreatment of minority employees at different DOT facilities across the region.
New 12 first reported the story a month ago.
Plaintiffs say with U.S. District Court reopening soon, they'll be seeking financial damages. They say they've had to put up with unfair treatment their superiors using racial slurs.
DOT worker Luis Ortiz says, "Now look at all these people that are standing here with me. All minorities that have mustered the courage, that have stood strong to stand against this discrimination and have been retaliated against."
Adeline Delvalle, who also works for the DOT, says, "Now I go to work and I sit in my car and I have like an anxiety attack before I can walk in and it's like, do I really want to be here? But you know what, I'm there because I'm there from 8 to 4 and whatever they give me, I'll do it, you know?"
The lawsuits say minority employees are forced to work under the constant threat of retaliation.
State officials offered no comment on the lawsuits.