Man says he was victim of racial discrimination

CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County man is suing over claims he was fired due to his race.

Kenneth Anderson filed a lawsuit Nov. 26, 2014, in Kanawha Circuit Court against BlueWater Manufacturing Services Inc., citing race discrimination and retaliatory discharge.

According to the complaint, Anderson, who is black, was subjected to disparate treatment and comments based on his race while working as a wrapper operator for BlueWater at the Clearon Plant in Charleston. Anderson says when he filed a grievance with his union over a June 2012 demotion when he had more seniority than the white co-worker who was able to retain the position, he overheard his assigned union representative say he would kick the plaintiff out of the union if the defendant so desired.

The complaint states Anderson then filed a human rights complaint and when the defendant's president asked him to retract it and he refused, he was fired.

Anderson is represented by attorney David M. Adkins of The Adkins Law Firm in Hurricane.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 14-C-2091