Fired Greyhound manager files retaliatory discharge claim

A former Philadelphia manager for the Greyhound bus company is suing the transportation company in federal court, alleging that his termination after two years on the job was retaliatory in nature.

In his complaint, which was filed Dec. 23 at the federal courthouse in Philadelphia by attorney Thomas W. Moore, III, Atco, N.J. resident Alfred King claims that he was fired from his position at Greyhound Lines on April 1 of this year after he complained of discriminatory treatment he had been experiencing at the company, which he started working for in October 2009.

Specifically, King, who is black, alleges that his superiors did not allow him to attend specialized training that was offered to other, non-African American employees, despite the fact that his direct manager informed him he would have to undergo the training.

The training King was not allowed to partake in, the suit claims, enabled employees in managerial positions to become “more successful in their job performance,” the lawsuit states.

“Defendant Greyhound discriminated against Plaintiff by refusing to allow him to attend mandatory training that was necessary for him to succeed in his position while permitting non African Americans in Plaintiff’s position in other cities to attend the training,” the complaint states.

King received a poor performance evaluation on March 24 of this year, something the plaintiff directly attributes to the fact that he was prevented from attending the necessary training.

When King complained of receiving the discriminatory treatment, the suit alleges, he was terminated under the guise of poor job performance.

The lawsuit accuses the defendant of race discrimination and retaliation and other violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

King seeks to have Greyhound permanently enjoined from discriminating against employees based on race.

King also seeks unspecified compensatory, punitive and actual damages, as well as damages for pain, suffering humiliation, litigation costs and other equitable and legal relief.

The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial.

The federal case number is 2:11-cv-07819-CDJ.