MINT EMPLOYEES ALLEGE RACIAL HARASSMENT

The Treasury Department said it has opened an investigation into allegations of racial harassment and discrimination raised by Black employees at the U.S. Mint, the government entity responsible for circulating coins in the country.

A group of Black employees at the Mint wrote a letter in June asking Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to intervene and address what they say is "rampant racism" at the bureau, according to the letter, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

The letter cited several workplace incidents from recent years that the authors said have contributed to mistrust of Mint leadership by many Black workers. These included a white worker who received a settlement after being dismissed for allegedly displaying a noose in the Philadelphia facility, graffiti of the N-word in a Mint restroom and a white Mint executive using the term "zoo keeper" to refer to a Black colleague.

"Mint employees have tried both anonymously and openly to address the racial tension and disparities, but Mint management has historically worked in tandem with Mint legal counsel to railroad and punish those who oppose racism," the letter states. The letter was signed by six employees saying they represented other staff afraid of reprisals for signing.

Mint spokesman Todd Martin said, "The United States Mint takes any claims of racism and retaliation seriously and is committed to ensuring that the Mint is a workplace free from harassment and discrimination." He said that although some of the incidents occurred years ago, the Mint was reviewing how it handles such complaints.

The Mint's director, David Ryder, who was appointed in April 2018, is reviewing the bureau's Equal Employment Opportunity process and has hired a new executive to oversee the Mint's EEO programs, Mr. Martin said. He said the Mint is scheduling a third meeting with Black employees.

To read the complete article, see:
Treasury Probes Claims of Racial Discrimination at U.S. Mint (https://www.wsj.com/articles/treasury-probes-claims-of-racial-discrimination-at-u-s-mint-11600433826)

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