By Taylor Sisk, Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL – Two Town of Chapel Hill Public Works Department employees who were suspended in September have been fired, according to a statement released by the town on Friday.
Kerry Bigelow and Clyde Clark were placed on placed on paid administrative leave on Sept. 20. Administrators said complaints had been made against the workers, but that they could not disclose the nature of those complaints.
A statement released by the town’s public information office stated that as of Oct. 29, Bigelow and Clark have been dismissed from Town of Chapel Hill employment but still have grievance rights under the town policy.
According to the statement: “Under the Town’s grievance procedure, in disciplinary cases of demotion, suspension or termination, a grievance must be filed within 14 calendar days from the receipt of the written discipline notice.â€
The town may elect to hear the grievance or send it to the town’s Personnel Appeals Committee. If the manager elects to hear the appeal and the employee isn’t satisfied with the results, the employee may appeal the decision to the committee.
Bigelow and Clark say they were targeted for having filed grievances in the past alleging racial bias in job placements and promotions. Bigelow won a race-discrimination grievance in February, when he alleged that he had been passed over for a promotion, but didn’t receive the promotion.
The men’s attorney, Al McSurely, indicated on Monday that they would file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro chapter of the NAACP and the union UE 150 have taken up the men’s cause. A letter signed by NAACP chapter president Michelle Laws and the UE 150’s Nathanette Mayo of UE 150 said that the suspensions “sent a chilling message to other workers†not to file grievances or “make any criticisms about safety or unfair and discriminatory practice.â€