Black Stanley Engineering Worker Fired for Phone Use Loses Suit

Stanley Black & Decker’s parts-manufacturing arm saw its win upheld in a lawsuit by a Black former forklift operator who alleged race bias caused his firing after he reportedly used his cell phone on the plant floor.

Stanley Engineering Fastening said that violated its workplace safety policy and that Vulenzo Blount was already under a last-chance agreement for similar misconduct. The last-chance agreement was entered at the behest of Blount’s union, who backed his continued employment when Stanley wanted to fire him over his use of a smartwatch while he was operating . . .