Former employees file federal lawsuit against Central Alabama Water

Former employees have filed a lawsuit against Central Alabama Water (CAW) and state lawmakers, including Governor Kay Ivey. They want to take a stand against what they say is a hostile takeover of the company.

According to a coalition made up of community groups, concerned citizens, clergy, consumers and working-class advocates, worker conditions at CAW have become “reminiscent of a plantation, marked by unjust treatment and lack of respect.”

The coalition claims that the CEO and Senior Executive Team (SET) have been unjustly terminating employees and restricting their rights to representation and to appeal. Birmingham activist Eric Hall spoke on the topic at a press conference held on the CAW steps on Feb. 20.

“It’s systemic racism. Whenever there’s a challenge to authority, they see us as troublemakers. We have a right to stand up, the right to demand to be respected,” Hall said. “When we question that, we should not be penalized.”

In an official statement, the coalition denounced the newly appointed administrative board. He claims that when the Employee Assistance Leader questioned the termination of several workers, they were terminated as well.

“Labor is strong, labor is present, labor is here,” Hall said. “I stand before you as a community activist in the capacity of Black Lives Matter Birmingham Chapter, but also representing a worker-power movement.”

In the same press conference announcement, the group mentions that they do not support “any targeted efforts intended to purge Black workers from the utility.”

They stand with the employees and are demanding that all wrongfully terminated employees be returned to their position and immediate action is taken by the water works administration.

“We are fighting back,” Hall said.