01973851
09-21-1999
Mary R. Taylor, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Mary R. Taylor v. United States Postal Service
01973851
September 21, 1999
Mary R. Taylor, )
Appellant, )
) Appeal No. 01973851
v. ) Agency No. 4-G-760-1045-95
)
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
)
)
DECISION
Appellant timely filed an appeal with the Commission from a final
decision of the agency concerning her complaint of unlawful employment
discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq., and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967, 29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq. The appeal is accepted in accordance
with EEOC Order No. 960, as amended. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.402(a).
Appellant filed a complaint in which she alleged that the agency
discriminated against her on the bases of age (40) and gender by not
re-appointing her to a third term as a temporary letter carrier. Her
appointment was terminated, effective October 6, 1995.
To prevail on her claim, appellant must satisfy the three-part test
fashioned by the United States Supreme Court. She must initially
establish a prima facie case of discrimination. The burden then shifts
to the agency to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for
the acts forming the bases of the complaint. Finally, appellant must
show that the agency's articulated reason for its actions was merely a
pretext for illegal discrimination. McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,
411 U.S. 792, 802-05 (1973).
We disagree with the agency that appellant failed to establish a prima
facie case. The record establishes that appellant was not given a
third consecutive temporary appointment while a 27-year-old white male
temporary carrier was given a third consecutive appointment. We find
this more than sufficient to establish a prima facie case. We also find
that the customer services manager articulated the agency's reason for
not rehiring her: appellant had been counseled on numerous occasions
with regard to her performance. In her affidavit, the customer services
manager outlined ten instances between December 1993 and September 1995,
in which appellant was given a discussion regarding unsatisfactory
performance. Those incidents included: failure to complete assigned
duties; leaving the driver door open while making a U-turn; speeding;
leaving her vehicle unlocked and unattended, with mail; misdelivery of
mail; and other incidents. Appellant has not addressed these findings
in her appeal statement, nor has she presented any documents or testimony
which contradicts the manager's statement or undermines her credibility as
a witness. Although the record includes letters from customers attesting
to the positive side of appellant's performance, these letters do not
contradict the customer service manager's account.
After a review of the record in its entirety, including consideration
of all statements submitted on appeal, it is the decision of the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission to AFFIRM the agency's final decision
because the preponderance of the evidence of record does not establish
that discrimination occurred.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0795)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in the
case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing
arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available
when the previous decision was issued; or
2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,
regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or
3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial
precedential implications.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST
BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the
decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive
a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in
opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider
MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party
WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request
to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.407. All requests and arguments
must bear proof of postmark and be submitted to the Director, Office of
Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box
19848, Washington, D.C. 20036. In the absence of a legible postmark, the
request to reconsider shall be deemed filed on the date it is received
by the Commission.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances
have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,
a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the
delay and any supporting documentation must be submitted with your
request for reconsideration. The Commission will consider requests
for reconsideration filed after the deadline only in very limited
circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(c).
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0993)
It is the position of the Commission that you have the right to file
a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court WITHIN
NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive the decision.
You should be aware, however, that courts in some jurisdictions have
interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner suggesting that
a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the
date that you receive the decision. To ensure that your civil action is
considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR
DAYS from the date that you receive the decision or to consult an attorney
concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction in which your
action would be filed. If you file a civil action, YOU MUST NAME AS THE
DEFENDANT IN THE COMPLAINT THE PERSON WHO IS THE OFFICIAL AGENCY HEAD
OR DEPARTMENT HEAD, IDENTIFYING THAT PERSON BY HIS OR HER FULL NAME AND
OFFICIAL TITLE. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your
case in court. "Agency" or "department" means the national organization,
and not the local office, facility or department in which you work. If you
file a request to reconsider and also file a civil action, filing a civil
action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1092)
If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot
afford the services of an attorney, you may request that the Court
appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court permit you
to file the action without payment of fees, costs, or other security.
See Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. �
2000e et seq.; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. ��
791, 794(c). The grant or denial of the request is within the sole
discretion of the Court. Filing a request for an attorney does not
extend your time in which to file a civil action. Both the request and
the civil action must be filed within the time limits as stated in the
paragraph above ("Right to File A Civil Action").
FOR THE COMMISSION:
Sept. 21, 1999
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations