Navy worker settles
suit, gets $140,000
A Pearl Harbor boiler plant mechanic who filed a discrimination suit in 2003 after being passed up for promotion three times in 13 years has reached a $140,000 settlement with the Navy.
Under the settlement, Clifford Thomas will also be promoted, according to his Honolulu attorney, Clayton Ikei.
"Year after year after year, Mr. Thomas received nothing from the Navy except denial and stonewalling," Ikei said. "This agreement gives him the promotion he would have received years ago had it not been for the racial and ethnic discrimination he suffered at Pearl Harbor."
The Navy did not admit to any wrongdoing in the case, according to the settlement, which was released yesterday. A Navy spokeswoman declined to comment.
Thomas began working at the Navy Public Works Division at Pearl Harbor in 1982, after emigrating from the British West Indies and becoming a U.S. citizen.
After eight years on the job, he applied for a promotion to foreman and was turned down.
In 1993 the Navy agreed to give him "priority consideration" for the next position in which he was rated qualified, according to Ikei. But in 2000 and 2002 he was passed over for several promotions again, Ikei said.
Thomas filed a suit against the Navy in 2003, claiming he had been discriminated against on the basis of his race, color and national origin. The settlement was reached April 15.