Two former Friendly Honda workers in Poughkeepsie who claim they were rehired for racial discrimination are suing the owner of the Friendly Auto Corp dealership.
According to four pages of Reginald Edwards, a black man, and Rafael Rodriguez, a Latino man, presented last week in federal court in the Southern District of New York.
Both were among the 18 Friendly Honda salesmen in Poughkeepsie who were fired in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to complaint by New Paltz’s attorney Christopher Watkins. However, the maximum of these workers were rehired when the company opened in May, according to the document.
“By early June 2020, he had rehired all authorized distributors, with the exception of whistleblowers and a white Jewish distributor making far fewer sales than whistleblowers,” the complaint notes. “… Applicants were older than dealers with the highest number of rehired, greater delight in car sales, and were among the most successful distributors in the parent company…”
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Matthew R. Simpson, representing Friendly Auto Group, said in an email the company “does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.
“The broker has not yet been informed of the complaint and cannot handle any express accusations at this time,” Simpson said.
Watkins told the Journal on Monday that he hoped the corporate would be sanctioned this week. The lawsuit alleges that Friendly Honda has “a long history of not employing other people of color” since its opening in 1973.
The complaint asks the jury to listen and move in the case, compensatory damages, adding damages for loss of wages and benefits, punitive damages, legal fees and to be returned to their duties.
Edwards and Rodriguez claim that the observations were made on their own through the dealer’s general manager on several occasions. The alleged examples indexed in the complaint come with the feeder raising their hands in the air and saying “I have nothing,” and telling other workers close to “Watch your wallet” as they pass on to the plaintiffs.
The complaint also alleges that the General Sales Manager and the General Manager of legal consumers to request a white distributor in the position of a Rodriguez or Edwards.
“This case is similar to two of the primary disorders recently underway,” Watkins said Monday. “One is obviously the COVID pandemic and the economic and physical consequences it has inflicted on so many people. As the greatest awareness that racism continues to exist and permeates our society, adding in the workplace.”
Ryan Santistevan: [email protected]; 845-437-4809; Twitter: @NewsByRyan_.