Workers claim discrimination in lawsuit against USC

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A group of maintenance workers have filed 26 individual lawsuits alleging job discrimination against the University of South Carolina after a judge dismissed a group lawsuit last year.

The lawsuits were filed this week in U.S. District Court in Columbia by plaintiffs' attorney Dennis Bolt.

Bolt filed a single complaint on behalf of the workers in August 2001, alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The university has denied the allegations in court documents and has said it has a commendable employment record.

U.S. Magistrate Bristow Marchant dismissed the blanket lawsuit on Dec. 18, saying the workers would have to file separately by a March 1 deadline.

Marchant's ruling was merited because of the diverse and sometimes conflicting nature of the individual claims, said Columbia attorney Vance Bettis, who represents the university.

"The only commonality was that they were all African-American, and they all worked for the university," Bettis said.

The original lawsuit and the ones filed Monday said the university singled black workers out for disciplinary action and had a pattern of passing them over for promotions and pay raises. Black employees were also paid less than white employees for comparable work, the suits claim.

The plaintiffs say university officials were aware of their treatment for years but "steadfastly refused" to take action.

The dispute between the workers and USC dates back several years. In July 2001, the U.S. Labor Department said employees, including electricians, painters and carpenters, had grounds for a discrimination lawsuit.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.charleston.net