RIVIERA BEACH, Fla.- Some employees of one popular delivery service are making allegations of intimidation and racism. The United Parcel Service workers say that's the climate they feel inside their Riviera Beach workplace.
“He's walking right behind me, over my shoulder, harassing me,” said Marvin Merritt, a UPS worker, who’s worked at the company for three years.
Merritt is talking about his former supervisor at the Riviera Beach facility, who he says was moved to a different position.
“He shook his head and he just called me a lazy n***** and walked away, which was so wrong,” explained Merritt.
He filed a grievance against the company alleging harassment and discrimination after he says he was discriminated against earlier this year.
“I don't feel comfortable with the company after the incident,” added Merritt.
Tuesday about 70 of Merritt’s UPS co-workers and teamsters rallied outside UPS. They argue there is a pattern of discrimination at the Riviera Beach facility.
“When employees have histories of picking on other employees, bullying other employees, and then these types of things come up it’s absolutely troubling,” said Josh Zivalich, the secretary and treasurer of the Teamsters Local Union 769.
The United Parcel Service says it's investigating the claim. A spokeswoman sent the following statement:
“UPS does not tolerate discrimination or harassment in the workplace or retaliation for any allegations. UPS takes seriously these employee concerns raised through the grievance process and is investigating. That process is underway with an active investigation by our Human Resources team. Neither the grievance review nor our investigation has concluded.”
