Texaco tapes add fuel to fire

In an August 1994 tape recording, did Robert Ulrich, then treasurer of the Texaco corporation, say "Nicholas" or "nigger" ? Were his racist and derogatory statements really racist or just slightly offensive?

During a meeting with administrators of Texaco, there was a discussion regarding employees celebrating holidays other than Christmas. Ulrich was complaining about holidays like Kwanza after already having to make adjustments for Jewish employees who celebrate Chanukah.

In the Los Angeles Times, it was reported that Michael Armstrong, hired by Texaco to investigate the scandal, said that the digital enhancement of the tapes revealed that Ulrich said St. Nicholas, not niggers.

It was also reported that on the tapes Ulrich said, in more derogatory terms, that these particular employees were defecating on Santa's beard.

Whether Ulrich said the N-word or not does not negate the fact that clearly racist statements were made.

In the same discussion among the executives of the company, which were secretly taped, they disclose that they hid or destroyed documents which six employees of Texaco needed as proof for their case.

The case involves these employees and about 1,400 other employees of different levels. The six employees have filed a class action lawsuit against the company stating that blacks in different levels of management were denied promotions.

In light of the passing of Proposition 209, the Texaco scandal illuminates the fact that there remains unfair treatment of people of color and women in the work force.

The fact that there were only whites present at this meeting is one sign that the hierarchy of this company needs a makeover.

If there were at least one person on the board at that time that was African-American, Asian, Hispanic or any other nationality, this conversation would not even have occurred.

Also, that these people are allowed to have such an exclusive meeting in which to feel free to be openly racist makes affirmative action a necessary element in the work force.

Locally, people who supported Prop. 209 have claimed that there is no room for preferential treatment in California state agencies in hiring or in recruiting for schools.

But this latest incident at Texaco shows that the fact that although affirmative action clauses do exist, it does not mean that companies abide by the rules.

And because this company cannot even follow simple rules like recognizing the diversity of its employees, then its executives definitely cannot be expected to use politically correct terminology while speaking about employees of other ethnic backgrounds.

Whatever word was used only defines whether this situation can be classified as bad or worse.

Regardless of the semantics, Texaco's president and his officials need to make sure that these people are punished and justice is served.