Noose, KKK flag threatened worker just 5 years ago

WCI and the union committee held the first plant workshop on civil rights.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Darryl Parker, a black crane operator at WCI Steel Inc., recalls vividly just five years ago when a noose and Ku Klux Klan flag were left near his locker.
"It was a racist flag," Parker said Friday.
Parker remembers the look on the face of the company's labor relations manager at the time -- "visibly upset."
Although an investigation was conducted by plant security, the people who took the flag and noose into the plant were never caught.
But the company put out the word that such activity will not be tolerated, and Parker said he was satisfied.
Parker, who has worked at WCI for 25 years, is chairman of the United Steelworkers Local 1375 civil rights committee and co-chair of the WCI Steel-USW Joint Civil Rights Committee.
Dennis Pogany, company human resources general manager, is the other co-chairman.
Workshop
The committee held a civil rights awareness workshop Friday to discuss such issues and how to deal with them.
The workshop focused on civil and human rights, company policies and the law -- especially against sexual harassment, Pogany explained.
"It's important for employees to know what they can do if they feel they are uncomfortable," Pogany said. "It's a real important step for us."
Parker said the most important step the company has taken through the committee so far is to reach out to organizations such as the NAACP and Urban League.
By identifying those of low income through the group, more entry-level jobs go to the poor, including women and minorities.
In the area of promotions, Parker said, "there needs to be more work done."
One of the difficulties, Parker commented, is that minority managers have retired or left because of illness.
More work needs to be done to increase the number of minority managers, Parker said. But because of the company's contract with the union, the number of management positions overall is being reduced, he added.
"We [the committee] are working for a common goal of eliminating social injustice and harassment in the plant," Parker said.
yovich@vindy.com