Deputy County Manager Keith Chadwell
County Manager's Office
Suite 10061
Fulton County Government Center
141 Pryor Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Dear Mr. Chadwell:
We are a group of twenty-year veteran library employees that are fed
up over the harsh abuse and harassment of staff from library director
Mary Kaye Hooker. The situation is so critical that we are planning
to request a meeting with the Fulton County Commissioners to discuss
the severity of our situation.
Library employees have followed Fulton County Personnel Procedures to
seek relief from Mrs. Hooker's abuse and harassment. We have filed
complaints with the county EEO Office, filed grievances with the
Personnel Board, and sent letters of complaint to the county
administrators, commissioners and the library Board of Trustees.
Still, Mrs. Hooker's abuse has worsened over the last few months.
Employees are frightened to come to work. The staff has even created
a web site to complain about her abuse (www.afplwatch.com).
We have documented specific actions of contempt and discrimination
against male employees. But nothing changes. We have been the victims
of verbal abuse, harassment, threats, coercion and lies about our
performance. She has destroyed the careers and reputations of many
valued colleagues, and brags in meetings that if she loses her job,
she will take other people down with her. Many library employees have
been forced to seek psychiatric help because of her, and we have
several people out on medical leave because of Mrs. Hooker.
Enough is Enough! So far, the Board of Trustees has failed to act on
our complaints, nor has the county conducted the investigation that we
requested. We need help now. Therefore, we are planning to request a
meeting with the commissioners to bring resoluton to the horrible
treatment of staff at the library, and we hope that you will assist us.
We are questioning the effectiveness of the county EEO office since
Mrs. Hooker retaliates against anyone who files an EEO complaint. It
has become impossible for the library to move forward under her
leadership because she lacks the support and respect of staff.
Our situation is so critcal that we have retained legal counsel.
A copy of this document is being forwarded to our attorney. Enclosed
is a news article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that shows
Mrs. Hooker has a history of severe staff abuse.
[Click here to read the text of this 1999 newspaper article.]
Sincerely,
Veteran Library Employees Coalition
cc:
Commissioner Robb Pitts
Commissioner Emma Darnell
Commissioner Bob Fulton
Annette Steed, Chair, Board of Trustees
Stephen Dorvee, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
Bob Brandes, Fulton County Personnel Director
June Green, County Attorney
Cynthia Tucker, Atlanta Journal Constitution
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