Airport racism charges leveled again

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 | 11:02 a.m.

Accusations of racial and religious discrimination at McCarran International Airport were publicized because of a recent lawsuit but, according a 1996 employees survey, the claims are hardly new.

The survey that surfaced in U.S. District Court this week echoes sentiments revealed in a 1998 survey, which McCarran officials released in March after they were informed that the Sun planned to file a Freedom of Information Act request.

Employees interviewed in each survey complain that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and white workers receive preferential treatment and are promoted more often than those who do not fall into those categories.

Whether race and religion has crept into hiring and promotion practices at McCarran became an issue after Michael Jordan, a black airport employee, filed a federal lawsuit against the county's Department of Aviation in 1999.

Although Jordan, an airport services coordinator, has applied for -- and been denied -- promotions, he said Mormons, airport administrators' relatives and white employees continue to ascend through the ranks.

Kathleen England, Jordan's attorney, said airport officials have refused to provide her with a copy of the 1998 survey and have never said the 1996 document does indeed exist.

"They are so damaging," England said of the surveys. "It shows they had knowledge and awareness of discrimination. If they tolerate it, that's evidence of discrimination."

Chris Santiago, the airport's manager of employee services, emphasized that the surveys -- which cost between $3,500 and $5,000 -- are not scientific; they're done simply to get a feel for employees' perceptions of management.

"Both of these were open processes," Santiago said. "Even though a lot of the perceptions are not supported by fact, it's important to keep asking employees how they're feeling."

Santiago said several programs designed to improve communication between management and employees and educate workers about the promotions process have been introduced since the 1998 survey.

New Clark County Manager Thom Reilly said he intends to determine whether airport employees still have concerns about discrimination and, if so, why.

"I think if the allegations are being surfaced and the perception is still there, it warrants taking a look at," Reilly said. "I want to talk to (airport management) about these allegations and reports."

Because new information related to England's case continues to trickle out of the county's Equal Employment Opportunity office, U.S. District Judge Philip Pro recently granted England more time to collect documents.

England said she also received permission to question 22 former and current administrators and employees.

Those expected to be deposed include former Aviation Director Bob Broadbent and his successor, current airport chief Randy Walker. Broadbent oversaw the airport in 1996; Walker was there in 1998. Both men are active in the Mormon church.

Like the 1998 survey, the results of the study conducted two years earlier showed that employees' primary concerns at the airport are that promotions are granted to employees who are related to administrators, those who are Mormon or have political "juice."

The 1996 results, which were released by the Service Employees International Union, also show that some employees believe members of interviewing panels had their minds made up before the process began.

"All employees need to be treated equally," one employee's entry read. "Some employees receive preferential treatment because of their religion (Mormon) or political contacts."

"Too many favorites are selected for positions. Is it blackmail, or just Mormonism?" another says.

England has battled the airport over the release of documents related to discrimination concerns at McCarran and a breakdown of promotions based on race.

Clark County Equal Employment Opportunity Director George Cotton has said his office does not track career paths of employees based on race.

"If these documents said everything was fine, don't you think they would have produced them to me?" England said.