Workers Allege City Discriminates

Three municipal employees last week filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission on Discrimination against the city of Cambridge, alleging they were treated unfairly at work because they are minorities.

Marian Hampton, an associate director of the Cambridge public library system, Malvina Monteiro, who heads the city's police review board, and Mary Wong, chair of the Cambridge Kids Council, consolidated their separate suits and filed jointly with the commission on Sept. 17.

Hampton and Monteiro are black, and Wong is Chinese-American.

In the 21-page filing released by the group's lawyer, Ellen Zucker, Wong asserts that she was cornered by supervisors and told she did not have the leadership skills to continue effectively performing her job.

When Wong requested additional staff to help her "during a time of explosive growth [she] was told flatly that [she] could only rely on volunteer interns and current staff," the complaint alleges.

But white managers, Wong claims, were given the additional support.

Wong also takes a jab at councilor and former mayor Sheila D. Russell.

Wong's complaint alleges that Russell "appeared not to appreciate the diversity of North Cambridge" when Russell expressed concerns about a new Kids Council community center in North Cambridge

"Councillor Russell did not support the Center, nor did she seem to think highly of its Asian advocate," the complaint states.

Contacted yesterday, Russell refused to comment.

Hampton's complaint alleges she was informally demoted - her responsibilities narrowed - because of her race. Hampton also claims her conduct was not reviewed fairly and that white employees harassed her on the job, sometimes using physical force.

Two weeks ago, Hampton was placed on administrative leave from her library position.

Monteiro, the public's liaison to the police review board and a naturalized American citizen, said she encountered anti-immigrant sentiment from city employees in high office.

She also alleges that her salary is substantially below that of white employees with similar experience and responsibilities.

No city employees reached yesterday would comment on the complaint.

In a prepared statement, city manager Robert W. Healy expressed surprise at the complaints.

"The City is disappointed and saddened that three of our employees have chosen to file employment discrimination claims against the city," he said.

According to statistics provided by the city of Cambridge, 25.1 percent of all employees are members of recognized minority groups.

Among management and executive level jobs--the source of the litigant's charges--13.3 percent of employees are minority, 3 percent below the city's hiring target.

In an affidavit filed with the discrimination commission, William Gomes, a former affirmative action director, alleges that Healy himself engaged in questionable hiring practices.

"In my view, the management of the city of Cambridge, as an employer, has resisted treating people of color equally," Gomes' statement said.

In his reply, Healy defended the city's hiring practices.

"In the hiring, supervision, and retention of employees, we apply uniform standards of conduct and procedure...without respect to any non-job related factors, including race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, and other personal characteristics," he said.

Zucker said she is confident that her clients will win their claim.

"We expect that the evidence in this case will prove that there is a pattern and practice of racial discrimination in the city of Cambridge," Zucker said

Contacted yesterday, Russell refused to comment.

Hampton's complaint alleges she was informally demoted - her responsibilities narrowed - because of her race. Hampton also claims her conduct was not reviewed fairly and that white employees harassed her on the job, sometimes using physical force.

Two weeks ago, Hampton was placed on administrative leave from her library position.

Monteiro, the public's liaison to the police review board and a naturalized American citizen, said she encountered anti-immigrant sentiment from city employees in high office.

She also alleges that her salary is substantially below that of white employees with similar experience and responsibilities.

No city employees reached yesterday would comment on the complaint.

In a prepared statement, city manager Robert W. Healy expressed surprise at the complaints.

"The City is disappointed and saddened that three of our employees have chosen to file employment discrimination claims against the city," he said.

According to statistics provided by the city of Cambridge, 25.1 percent of all employees are members of recognized minority groups.

Among management and executive level jobs--the source of the litigant's charges--13.3 percent of employees are minority, 3 percent below the city's hiring target.

In an affidavit filed with the discrimination commission, William Gomes, a former affirmative action director, alleges that Healy himself engaged in questionable hiring practices.

"In my view, the management of the city of Cambridge, as an employer, has resisted treating people of color equally," Gomes' statement said.

In his reply, Healy defended the city's hiring practices.

"In the hiring, supervision, and retention of employees, we apply uniform standards of conduct and procedure...without respect to any non-job related factors, including race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, and other personal characteristics," he said.

Zucker said she is confident that her clients will win their claim.

"We expect that the evidence in this case will prove that there is a pattern and practice of racial discrimination in the city of Cambridge," Zucker said