A former worker’s complaint of racial discrimination against the operators of the Victoria shipyards has been partially upheld by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.
Austin Francis filed the complaint against Seaspan Marine which is now considering an appeal.
In 2009, the black man was working in Esquimalt when he found a white rag with two eye holes cut out on top of his tool bag.
A co-worker testified he saw the racist mask – reminiscent of a Ku Klux Klan hood – when Francis asked him to keep his gear in his locker, but a shipyard manager claims he was never informed about the incident.
The tribunal has agreed Francis suffered discrimination because of his race.
No financial penalty has been issued because he never sought compensation.
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