Terminated CUC worker sues for alleged hostile workplace
A terminated Commonwealth Utilities Corp. employee is suing the agency in federal court, saying he was subjected to a hostile work place, such as placing a cockroach on his desk and other employees calling him “gay.”
Zaji O. Zajradhara is suing CUC, executive director Allan Fletcher, and 10 unnamed co-defendants for whistleblower/wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In a complaint he filed without a lawyer, Zajradhara is demanding unspecified damages and court costs.
Saipan Tribune tried to obtain comments from Fletcher but he had yet to reply as of press time.
Zajradhara said that CUC initially hired him as a trades technician/operator in October 2012, but he was moved into various positions, including warehouse man, fuel handler, and troubleshooter for the Water Division.
He said that CUC terminated him on Oct. 24, 2014, on the pretext that he had been caught in possession of illegal drugs, in violation of CUC drug and alcohol policy.
Zajradhara said he became aware of various violations of public policies, laws, regulations, and policies committed by the defendants during his employment.
One was misuse of federal funds by diverting federal money out of programs it had been granted for to cover other CUC expenses, he said.
He said he complained to Fletcher and others at CUC regarding these violations but, instead, the executive director allowed a hostile work place to develop to try to force him to quit.
Zajradhara said a racially offensive poster was installed in the workplace, a cockroach was put on his desk, and employees called him “gay” and other slurs.
The plaintiff said he complained of mistreatment to Fletcher and other management officials, but the complaints were ignored.
He said when he refused to quit his job, the defendants attempted to terminate him on the pretext that he had hit a co-worker. Zajradhara said his termination failed because it was established that the allegation of assault was untrue.
He said the defendants succeeded in terminating him on Oct. 24, 2014, by accusing him of trying to sell marijuana to an off-duty police officer. He said the defendants knew the allegation lacked merit but seized upon it to justify his termination.
Zajradhara also claimed he suffers from disability as he has post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and an injury on his right shoulder and upper back.
SOUNDS LIKE CUC MIGHT HAVE AN ISSUE OR TWO ON THEIR HANDS. CUC DOES VIOLATE THE CUC ACT BY HIRING CW-1 WORKERS IN AREAS OTHER THAN THE POWER GENERATION, IT ALSO VIOLATES THE DEFENDING THE HOMELAND ACT BY NOT TRYING TO HIRE AMERICANS FOR THOSE POSITIONS.. I’M SURE THAT THERE’S A FEW U.S. CITIZENS THAT WOULD LOVE TO WORK THERE, BUT ITS CHEAP TO GIVE AWAY AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP TO CW-1 LABOR.
Only If you Know what really went on, this guy wants to be treated differently, has a hard time with basic math and can’t even fallow procedures. oh and by the way this guy even sleeps during working hours.
Without knowing this guy, by the accounts of his many given “attempted” assignments (positions) it seems like this guy is not capable of what he was hire for in the first place.
It does not state if this guy is under a CW or is under a green card.
But as with many “outsiders” (not being racist here) it would seem by the “accounts” being relayed here, IF true, this guy has a problem and has created problems with his fellow workers.
I am not condoning what transpired, IF true by the fellow workers, but it is understandable AND I have had similar happen with another Bangladeshi worker due to his arrogance and attitude.
This one held a green card and he also tried to sue me on his removal. (by me) Although not so dramatic and in this case.
I just gave him his walking papers as he was not at all capable as I tried to put him in many areas also.
He was much problems and his law suit did not prevail. It did cost him much money and I also offer to pay his way back to where he came from although not my responsibility. just wanted bad problems gone. He refused.
He did eventually get taken into custody and deported. Good riddance to bad problems.
I o not know if this is the same type. But?
Very True Captain, This Guy is an African American . First of all This Zaji made his work place a hostile work place all by his self. he tells us local workers that were lazy and don’t like to work. next he tells us that we cant speak Chamorro in our work place. next he hits one of our fellow co-workers on the back because he spoke Tagalog to another co-worker. next he was smoking inside the power plant where your not supposed to and when told his response was “I Don’t Care”. next he called our co-workers wife a B***h. and it doesn’t end her it keeps going. oh and the best one he was caught using the government computer in the warehouse watching porn. he also changed his default photo to exotic models of women. he downloads music and videos’ on to the gov computer . and he also uses big headphones while doing all of that so he cant even hear us when we are talking to him. then we made a petition to remove him then he was transferred to the water division . what went on there not so sure but he failed the drug test and was selling drugs. and now he is blaming it all on PTSD and being Bipolar. if anyone has any questions call the power plant.
322 9265.
yeah, it would seem as though he
“might” be an “outsider”, like a REAL AMERICAN , and not one who came to the CNMI as a worker and refused to return home. also, yeah it appears as if he might have problems with his math( how do you know that? if there’s no example given) on the other hand, the example that you have given US of your English spelling demonstrates that YOU can’t spell. I offer that we follow the story and see what the U.S. COURTS AND THE APPLIED LAW DECIDES. this IS AMERICA, YOU KNOW. SO DEAL WITH IT. LET’S SEE WHOM SHALL BE DEEMED RIGHT.
WHAT YOU “SEE” IS BUT AN ILLUSION OF THE ACTUAL FACTS..
OR THIS GUY, WANTS CUC TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAIN LAND U.S. A WHERE IT IS ILLEGAL TO EMPLOY CW-1 WORKERS IN ANY PUBLIC UTILITY SECTOR AS PER THE PATRIOT ACT OF 2001.. OR IT COULD BE THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE HERE THINK THAT THEY “RUN” THE ISLANDS DUE TO THEIR “ANCHOR BABIES”, BUT IN FACT THEY ARE HERE UNDER THE GIFT OF “TEMPORARY” WORK VISAS. BUT, THEY’VE FORGOTTEN THAT FACT. ANYWAY, LET’S LET THE JUDGE DECIDE.. EITHER WAY, ITS A WIN FOR THE COMPLAINTANT BECAUSE HE HAD THE GUTS TO FILE AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THE SYSTEM STILL WORKS!