By: Dennis Niemiec, staff writer, The Detroit Free Press
Wednesday, June 24, 1998
In 24 years, Daniel Biedzen's career in Wayne County government has advanced very little.
But it wasn't from a lack of trying, the 49 year-old Northville Township resident said this week.
In a case filled with irony Biedzen, who investigates county workers' discrimination complaints, blames racial discrimination for his problems.
He is among six county workers who this week formed a support group - Victims of Reverse Discrimination in Public Employment - to combat the problem. Four of the workers are men. Three, including Biedzen, have filed lawsuits.
I want a promotion and I want to reform the system," said Biedzen, who is white. He is a member of Mensa, a club for people with high IQs. He has a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University and is paid an annual salary of $36,000.
"I'm in the same salary grade as a salt truck driver, a clerical leader and a tree trimmer," Biedzen said. "Sure, I'm not happy."
Biedzen said he has been bypassed for promotion repeatedly, despite scoring first in competitive exams. County officials said he placed first in recent testing for a position with the court system, but the county had to offer the job to a member of an administrator's union per union contract.
On Tuesday, Deputy County Executive Mike Duggan described the six workers as "disgruntled employees using race to get media attention."
He said the employees are hoping to gain leverage in an election year to settle their complaints. Several have had their complaints dismissed in union grievances or by the federal government, Duggan said.
Black employees also recently charged the county with discrimination in personnel practices. "Everyone who doesn't get promoted complains," Duggan said.
About 40 percent, or 2,400, of Wayne County government's 6,000 employees are minorities, Duggan said. Of all working-age people in the county, 39 percent are minorities, according to the 1990 census.
Duggan said the county seeks a racial mix in its workforce and management but does not have an affirmative action program that favors minorities.
"The county has not lost any reverse discrimination claims" in court, he said.
Biedzen said three of four discrimination complaints he investigates are from minorities. In addition to handling about six complaints a year, his job includes monitoring county contractors' employment practices.
The number of complaints are low because employees fear retaliation, Biedzen said. "Some are afraid they'll be considered to be racist," he added.
Other member of the reverse discrimination group are:
*John Blackstone, 35, of Belleville who says the county terminated him after he left on a two-week assignment with the state Army National Guard during the 1996 Olympics. Blackstone, a captain, was reinstated but said he was called derogatory names.
*Karen Kinder, 47, of Melvindale, who alleges she was demoted to be a file clerk at Wayne County Jail pertly because of a personality conflict with a black supervisor. She resigned.
*Judith Muhammad, 55, of Detroit who said she resigned this month as a clinic psychologist at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility because of religious and racial mistreatment by a supervisor. Muhammad is a Muslim.
*Larry Fields, 50, of Carleton who charges he was passed over for a management post at a detention facility.
Biedzen, Fields and Kinder have field lawsuits. Muhammad has a complaint filed with the federal government. Blackstone has dropped his complaint with the federal government and said he is preparing a lawsuit.
Another group member, Charles Mankin, could not be reached for comment. Fields' attorney, Jim Fett, represented two state troopers who won cash settlements for reverse discrimination in separate cases. The state has appealed.
"Discrimination against white people in Wayne County government is rampant," said Fett. "The only time you can give preferences is to remedy past discrimination by a government unit."
