The Brief
- A year after airport maintenance employees alleged harassment and bullying by a supervisor, they claim conditions remain unchanged, even though the city pledged to look into the matter.
- A seasoned worker named Michael Jones informed the Atlanta City Council that he encountered repercussions for voicing his concerns and noted that grievances against his manager Christopher Jackman have yet to be addressed.
- The mayor’s office claims that the case has been extensively examined and is close to being wrapped up; however, staff members mention they haven’t gotten any recent information regarding it.
ATLANTA
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Over a year since airport maintenance staff appeared before the Atlanta City Council to report sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation by a supervisor, employees claim that conditions remain unchanged—and some even think the circumstances have deteriorated further.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Airport employees in Atlanta allege sexual harassment, retaliation, and appalling working conditions.
What they’re saying
Last Thursday, veteran municipal worker Michael Jones once again spoke before the council’s Transportation Committee, stating that Supervisor Christopher Jackman continues to hold his post despite the significant accusations brought forth by over 100 employees back in March 2023.
“I brought 100 employees here to complain about our bully, Christopher Jackman, and since then, absolutely nothing has changed. No action has been taken against Christopher, and the situation has only deteriorated further,” Jones informed the council members.
Jones, who has been with the maintenance department for 22 years, mentioned that he has spent seven of the last ten months on administrative leave following public remarks he made. He alleged that he faced harassment from his supervisor and detailed an event where he claimed to have been shoved downhill while enduring verbal abuse.
What we know
The previous year, the mayor’s office pledged to look into the matter. Jones verified that both he and several others had been questioned by Human Resources earlier in the current year. He stated, “‘Abracadabra, on January 31st, Candice Collins along with her team arrived at the Aviation Department for some interviews.’ That was January 31st. As we approach April 30th, we haven’t received any updates yet.”
In early 2024, FOX 5 reported on the initial surge of grievances, where numerous employees spoke up about being subjected to conditions akin to slavery and voiced concerns over both their personal safety and employment stability.
On Wednesday, a representative from Mayor Andre Dickens’ office stated that the city treats all human resources issues with seriousness. The representative mentioned, “This specific case has undergone comprehensive investigation and is nearing completion.” They also noted that providing additional comments at present would not be appropriate.
What’s next
The staff along with their allies maintain that accountability is still pending.
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