ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation ha apologized for racially hostile work environment at its Westchester office, acknowledged the distress and hurt it caused African Americans and promised further measures to correct past mistakes.

Under pressure from Mayor Mr Rahm Emanuel and Mr Jesse Jackson, the company said it looks forward to meeting with former sales representative Mr Montrelle Reese, the African American target of the alleged discrimination, to determine a resolution that is satisfactory to all involved.

Mr Rich Hussey president & CEO of ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation said that he also plans to discuss the matter with Mr Jackson, who has demanded a thorough investigation before the company follows through on its plan to bring its North American regional headquarters to Chicago.

He added that "We understand that these allegations have been the source of distress and hurt to members of the African American community, citizens of Chicago, our employees and others. For that, we offer our sincerest apologies and recognize our responsibility in this matter."

Mr Hussey said that the company has once again reviewed the allegations that, on November 3rd 2011, prompted the Illinois Department of Human Rights to find substantial evidence of discrimination against the company Emanuel proudly welcomed to Chicago last week.

He added that "We have had to realize that mistakes were made. For example, the use of epithets to describe a tool to service elevators or disparaging remarks about black neighborhoods. We realize that we need to take further measures to prevent the repetition of this type of behavior. We will dedicate whatever time and resources are necessary to further educate our workforce on the lawful and appropriate treatment of all employees, including the engagement of experts to assist in this education."

Arguing that integrity, credibility and reliability define everything they do, Mr Hussey said that "There is no room in our organization for discriminatory conduct or harassment. The current circumstances will only lead us to redouble our efforts to ensure that every one of our employees regardless of gender, sexual orientation, color or creed feels welcome in ThyssenKrupp Elevator."

He noted that ThyssenKrupp Elevator did nothing to punish his white supervisors or co workers for frequently using the n word or making disparaging references to black neighborhoods that comprised Reese’s sales turf or anyone involved in a black face routine at a company meeting.

Mr Reese said that "If they felt like that, they should have said it two years ago. But there was no disciplinary action at all by the company. It wasn't of any concern to them until it became a front page story."

He added that "It's a cultural problem. What kind of changes are they willing to make? What are they going to do differently?"

Mr Jackson said he won't be satisfied until there is appropriate compensation for Mr Reese, a specific plan to detoxify the environment at ThyssenKrupp and a hiring plan to diversify a workforce that had only one black salesman and one black mechanic at its Westchester office.

He added that "They admit the obvious, but there is not yet a plan to compensate Mr Reese for the violation or a plan to change the environment. You must have a plan that is enforceable. By now, Mr Reese would have been more advanced, more promoted and more compensated if not for this act of workplace terrorism he experienced."

Mr Emanuel that he knew nothing about the alleged discrimination at ThyssenKrupp until he read about it in the Chicago Sun Times. He acknowledged that he pressured the company to issue the apology to put out the political firestorm.

He added that "As I've said before and I'm going to repeat. I have zero tolerance for racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, any form of discrimination. Those are not the values of Chicago. We have a core set of values and, to be a good citizen, you must enforce it and also educate to it. They've taken the action you saw today. They've done what they’re supposed to do. I want everybody to know that, if you operate in the city of Chicago, there are common values."

Earlier this week, Mr Reese told the Sun Times that he never felt more alone in my life than he did during the two years he worked as a sales representative for ThyssenKrupp Elevator's Westchester office. He described sitting in his car alone for up to a half hour prior to entering the building because, he couldn't handle being there.

Mr Reese worked at ThyssenKrupp Elevator from November 2007 until January 2010 before resigning because he could no longer tolerate the hostility.

(Sourced from www.suntimes.com)