November 17, 2000

Latino Vice President Decries ‘Glaring Injustices’ at Verizon

By JORDAN T. PINE

©2000 DiversityInc.com

Nov. 15, 2000

An executive at Verizon Communications has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that alleges the telecommunications giant discriminates against Latinos.

Michael Gonzalez Angel, Verizon’s vice president of technology development and investment, addressed his Nov. 6 complaint to EEOC Chairwoman Ida L. Castro on behalf of "all Hispanic and Latino employees, and prospective employees, of Verizon."

In his letter, Angel decried the company’s "widespread and routine pattern" of discrimination in hiring, promotions and pay. "One of the most glaring injustices is racial discrimination at Verizon senior management, where capable and competent Hispanics and Latinos hit the ‘glass ceiling of racism,’" he wrote.

"This is not an opinion, but a matter of fact proven by Verizon’s employment numbers," he stated. "Only about 1 percent of Verizon senior managers are Hispanic/Latino. This is a critical point because it is from senior levels where diversity leadership needs to be strongest."

Verizon was not prepared to discuss whether its numbers contradict Angel’s claim. But a search of DiversityInc.com and Verizon news releases produced several examples of the company’s strengths in the area of diversity.

Verizon was created in July of this year when telecom giant GTE Corp. joined with East Coast telephone services provider Bell Atlantic Corp. In June, Bell Atlantic made Fortune magazine’s "50 Best Companies for Minorities" for the third consecutive year. In 1999, the company spent more than $896 million on minority, woman or veteran-owned business, according to a company news release.

Verizon has also been recognized for its contributions to Latinos. Earlier this month, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce named Director of Supplier Diversity James H. Richardson Gonzales Corporate Hispanic Business Advocate of the Year. A month earlier, the company donated $10 million to the Washington, D.C.-based organization in support of its Private Equity Fund, which promotes the growth of Latino-owned businesses.

"Our predecessor companies, Bell Atlantic and GTE, had longstanding practices and policies specifically directed to ensuring diversity and providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment," Verizon spokesperson Sharon Cohen-Hagar said. "These policies are now quite clear throughout all levels of Verizon.

"Speaking to the company’s workforce diversity, Cohen-Hagar said Verizon has a "performance modifier" tied into its compensation plan that requires executives to "manage diversity they way they would any other business initiative."

Angel contended that the problem with Verizon isn’t its diversity record, but the "institutionalized racism" that exists and creates a barrier to its highest levels. Moreover, the company "refuses to take nay meaningful or substantive action" to overcome this barrier.

Verizon responded by pointing to executives such as Eduardo Menasce, president of its Enterprise Solutions Group, who oversees the corporation’s largest corporate accounts.

In his letter, Angel requested that the EEOC conduct a complete investigation of his allegations, promising "numerous Hispanic and Latino employee witnesses" will come forward to substantiate his complaint.

Angel, who joined Verizon in July, previously worked for Digital Sound Corporation in Santa Barbara, Calif. He has also served as director of North American Marketing and Sales for car manufacturer Hyundai.

Verizon Communications is the largest provider of wireless services and telecommunications in the United States, with 260,000 employees and approximately $60 billion in revenues for 1999.

This story originally appeared on DiversityInc.com, the premier source of news, information and commentary on the role of diversity in strengthening the corporate bottom line. For related stories, visit the Hispanic Diversity Community on DiversityInc.com today.DiversityInc.com