Racism Allegations Surface in Kansas City Streetcar Project
The Kansas City Streetcar extension project has become the center of controversy as six Black and Hispanic workers allege a “culture of race-based hostility and discrimination” on the job sites. The lawsuit claims that these workers have been subjected to persistent racial slurs and harassment from colleagues and foremen, potentially linked to extremist groups.
The plaintiffs, identified as Javier Buendia, Jonas Buendia, Oliver Curry, Carl Hunt, Joseph Martin, and Charles Watkins, have moved their case from Jackson County Circuit Court to U.S. District Court in Kansas City. They have named several contractors and unions as defendants, including Herzog Contracting Corporation and Stacey and Witbeck, among others.
The lawsuit names contractors on the project, the Herzog Contracting Corporation and the firm Stacey and Witbeck, and their joint venture KC Streetcar Constructors, as well as two local unions, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 101 and the Heavy Construction Laborers Local No. 663, as defendants. Also named as defendants are three individual employees, Bryce Shields, Josh Ayres, and Chris Greenwood.
“Plaintiffs worked and felt at the mercy of the terroristic whims of whomever chose to target them with race-based discrimination, harassment, or hostility as well as sexual harassment,” attorneys wrote.
The lawsuit faults the companies and the unions for not correcting the problems on the job sites and not intervening on behalf of the men and is seeking damages over the incidents.
Focusing on the alleged incidents, the lawsuit describes frequent racial slurs and intimidation, purportedly perpetuated by some foremen and colleagues. The environment is further tainted by accusations of theft and threats of violence, including a foreman who allegedly referred to Black workers as “monkeys” and another incident involving a lynching reference.
Oliver Curry, a Black worker, recounted a disturbing encounter in June 2022 where a white colleague threatened him with a strap, insinuating lynching. Curry also discovered that a foreman was part of a far-right group, which further exacerbated the hostile atmosphere.
Despite a superintendent’s intervention to dismiss a racist employee, the foreman’s inaction went unaddressed, according to the claims. The lawsuit describes other severe incidents, including a supervisor accusing Black workers of theft without evidence and making racially charged comments.
In 2023, management reportedly held a meeting to tackle these complaints and update disciplinary policies, but attorneys argue that no accused individuals faced consequences, suggesting a cover-up to erase evidence of misconduct.
“The change in policy and the associated expungement of the employees’ records indicates an attempt to clear the record of any evidence of racial or sexual harassment on the construction sites,” the lawsuit states. “The attempted cover-up of complaints and disciplinary history is evidence that Constructors knew of the complaints and the hostile work environment and chose not to address it.”
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