Six file racial discrimination suit against IQS

Six Texas residents are suing over claims they were fired due to their race.

Constance Guidry, Dorothy Jefferson, Tonja Roberts, Jimiallar Sadler, Bethany Sam and Dorothy Williams filed a lawsuit Nov. 10 in Jefferson County District Court against IQS Inc., citing racial discrimination and retaliation.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs, all African-American females, were employed as housekeeping staff at the Motiva Refinery in Port Arthur when the defendant, who mostly employed Hispanic employees, took over the contract for janitorial services and retained the plaintiffs at the request of Motiva staff. The complaint states the non-Hispanic employees were treated differently, including not being offered overtime opportunities and being disciplined for tardiness when Hispanic employees were not.

The plaintiffs say when they complained, nothing was done, until they were all terminated April 22, 2013, except Sadler, who was terminated earlier.

The plaintiffs seek more than $1 million in damages, back pay, front pay or reinstatement, and attorney fees. They are represented by attorneys Kenneth W. Lewis and Stephen L. Townsend of Bush Lewis in Beaumont.

Jefferson County District Court case number: 1-196380