Black Employees Say SoCal Edison Discriminates

Eleven former and current black employees have filed a discrimination lawsuit against Southern California Edison.

The Los Angeles Superior Court suit claims there’s a “racially hostile” work environment in which few blacks are in senior management at the utility. They also allege unequal pay and job assignments.

Plaintiffs attorney Charles T. Mathews says blacks are second-class citizens at Edison.

Utility spokeswoman Vanessa McGrady said the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

Rosemead-based Southern California Edison has 17,000 employees. The utility serves more than 14 million people in a 50,000 square-mile area of central, coastal and Southern California.