Former employees sue Winnebago Industries for age, disability discrimination

FOREST CITY — Six former Winnebago Industries employees are suing the company and two company executives for age and disability discrimination and retaliation.

The six — Mark Brackey, James Clark, Barb Garza, Mark Haverly, Scott McColloch, and Julie Stecker — say they were among 35 employees laid off in late July of last year. They claim that almost all of those fired employees were older.

A lawsuit filed last week states that each of them have filed a charge of employment discrimination with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission against the Forest City-based recreational vehicle company and received a letter of right-to-sue.

The plaintiffs accuse the company, Gary McCarthy with the human resources department, and John Breuklander who is head of the maintenance department, of violating state law by firing them due to their age, physical disability, or as retaliation for workplace complaints.

The six are asking for an unspecified amount in compensatory damages to replace lost earnings and benefits, for emotional distress and for attorney fees. Court records do not show that Winnebago Industries has filed any response to the lawsuit.