PHOENIX — Swift Aviation Services, Inc., a Phoenix aeronautical services company, will pay $50,000 and furnish other relief, in order to settle a lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  The agency announced the decision this week.

The EEOC claimed in its suit that Swift Aviation violated federal law when it subjected former employee Adam Donmez to unlawful harassment, due to his Turkish/Palestinian national origin and because he is Muslim. 

The alleged harassment included statements from supervisors, such as, “I don’t know why we don’t just kill all them towel heads;” asking Donmez why he was “dressed like [he was] gonna blow up the World Trade Center;” and derogatory jokes about Arabs. 

The EEOC also claimed that Donmez reported the harassment to another supervisor, but Swift Aviation failed to stop the harassment. Ultimately, the harassment was so bad that Donmez was forced to resign, according to the EEOC.

Harassment, based on national origin or religion, violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Swift Aviation Group, et al, Case No. 2:12 cv-01867-MHB, in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona) after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement through its conciliation process. The consent decree, settling this case, which was entered on July 24, 2013, requires Swift Aviation to provide $50,000 in monetary relief to Donmez, including back wages and compensatory damages. The decree also permanently prohibits Swift Aviation from subjecting any employee to harassment, or retaliation, based on national origin or religion, and also requires the company to provide training to its managers and employees, and to notify the EEOC about future harassment complaints. 

Rayford O. Irvin, director of the EEOC’s Phoenix District Office, said “This action shows the EEOC’s unwavering commitment to eradicating national origin and religious discrimination in the workplace. We are pleased that an agreement could be reached this early in the litigation.”

Swift Aviation is a commercial business at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which provides aeronautical services, such as the fueling and hangering of aircraft and aircraft maintenance.

The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination. Further information is available at www.eeoc.gov.