CalPortland Miner Wins Second Shot at Discrimination Claims

A former CalPortland Co. worker will see his discrimination and retaliation claims against the company get a second look by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission after the Ninth Circuit found Wednesday a different standard of evidence should be applied to his suit.

Robert Thomas, who worked on CalPortland’s 220-foot dredge on the Columbia River, said he was fired after complaining about under-staffing and lack of training causing safety issues. Thomas was disciplined after being accused of climbing a ladder onboard the boat without his personal flotation device, and was later fired, he said.

The commission applied the ...