Ex-UPS Worker Advances Retaliation, Wrongful Termination Claims

A Black United Parcel Service Inc. delivery driver can move forward with claims that the shipping and logistics giant unlawfully fired him for alleging racist treatment at work, a federal court said.

Judge Thomas O. Rice of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington on Monday rejected UPS’ motion for summary judgment on Tahvio Gratton’s claims of retaliation and wrongful termination.

A reasonable jury could find Gratton was fired for speaking out and UPS’ stated reason for his firing—alleging he assaulted an employee—was pretextual, Rice said.

Gratton, a former UPS employee in Washington, alleges he was frequently ...