N.J. Postal Workers Claim Sexual Harrassment

EDISON, N.J. (CBS 2) -- A New Jersey woman says for over 20 years, she's suffered sexual harassment at her government job - despite her many efforts to put a stop to it.

Cheryl Carroll has filed grievances and asked for transfers from her job at the Kilmer Postal Facility in Edison, N.J., – she's even sued over the advances, but says the Equal Employment Opportunity law designed to protect people like her has failed.

Carroll told her story to CBS 2 exclusively.

"No human being, male or female, should have to go through this," she said. "No one."

As she prepares to head to her job in Edison, N.J., her husband Clifford, worries about what the night will bring.

"It's like living in a hell, actually," he said.

Cheryl has worked at the Postal Facility as a mail sorter for 23 years.

On the day she was first hired, she says her supervisor, Eugene Naviello, asked her out.

"He asked me to go to a diner with him," Cheryl said. "I told him no."

But, she says, Naviello wouldn't take no for an answer, as he continues to ask her repeatedly.

"No is no and I told him no!" Cheryl said. "And I told him, you know, you have a wife."

The Maplewood, N.J., mother of three says she's complained to other managers, filed grievances, even asked to be transferred. She says she couldn't quit because her son had seriousmedical problems and she needed the federal care, so she kept going to work.

Naviello denies he ever asked her out socially. Cheryl also claims he tried to get her to look at porn in his officer.

He says that never happened, but when asked in a deposition whether a worker having pornography in the workplace violated the Postal Service's sexual harassment policy, he didn't have a clear cut answer.

"Possibly," he said. "It depends on the individual person itself. Some people it doesn't offend."

And Cheryl isn't the only one claiming discrimination at the facility. Other employees here paint a picture of sexual favoritism. They say those women who are willing to please their bosses get better jobs and better schedules.

Those who don't are punished.

"They harass you," said Karen Meyer, Cheryl's co-worker. "They mess withy our pay.

And if you're not willing to sleep with the bosses?

"They take away time," said Meyer.

Other co-workers agree.

"It's the good old boys club," said Vanessa Liles-Walker. "And women are allowed in the good old boys club if you're a good old girl."

Many of the disgruntled employees have filed grievances to no avail.

When a private employee has such a complaint, it goes straight to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

But when it happens at a federal agency like the Postal Service, that agency is in charge of the investigation. And when the EEOC does eventually get involved, these employees say they almost always find in favor of the federal agency.

"They go through the motions, you have a meeting," said Meyer.

But, she says, nothing happens.

And EEOC judge William Macauley agrees for people like Carroll, it's an uphill climb.

Generally, he says, it's more times resolved in favor of the agency than in favor of the complainant.

"Yes," Macauley said. "Because the burden of proof is on the complainant."

Cheryl Carroll sued in 1999. But three years into that process, a federal judge dismissed the case, pointing out that there were no witnesses who overheard the proposals that Cheryl claims she got from Naviello and no evidence of retaliation.

She lost the appeal, as well.

Her new lawyer, Gina Mendola says cases like these are difficult to get to trial.

"They will protect the federal agencies and the cases will be dismissed," said Mendola. "And it's so tough for a plaintiff to even get past that hurdle and get it to a jury."

But the Carrolls are trying one more time, suing Naviello and the Postmaster General.

CBS 2 tried numerous times for comment, but neither Naviello nor the U.S. attorney representing him would agree to an interview.

A Postal Service spokesman responded with an e-mail Wednesday, saying, in part:

"It is inappropriate to comment on any pending litigation. We consider our employees as our most important resource. When issues do arise, there are several venues for resolving employee concerns."