Coworkers ask PenMet to rehire employee who alleges racial discrimination led to firing
More than 15 Peninsula Metropolitan Park District employees and supporters attended the district board meeting July 18 to protest the firing of a park employee.
They argue 23-year-old Stardio Wilson was unjustly fired in June from his position as a grounds specialist, where he did maintenance work along with opening and closing parks.
The phrase: “Save Stardio” was on fliers and T-shirts outside of the meeting at the Arletta Schoolhouse at Hales Pass Park near Gig Harbor.
Wilson worked for Peninsula Metropolitan Parks for more than four years, first as a volunteer then as a part-time employee, he told The News Tribune. Wilson was hired on full time and was in a six-month trial period when he was fired in June.
Wilson started volunteering with PenMet in high school, helping out with community events because “it was fun,” he said.
Asked why he lost his job, Wilson gave The News Tribune a copy of the letter in which PenMet fired him. The notice of termination, signed by Director of Park Services Denis Ryan, says in part: “Your behavior and performance is not likely to improve, and progressive attempts to improve your performance through coaching and counseling have not been effective.”
Wilson pointed to the phrase “coaching and counseling.” He alleges he didn’t receive either.
Wilson, who is Black, said he believes racial discrimination led to his firing.
“All those reasons in the letter are misinformation,” Wilson said.
PenMet Executive Director Ally Bujacich and Ryan, the director of park services, refused to comment when approached by the Tribune July 18 after the meeting.
Bujacich and Ryan also did not respond to calls and emails from the Tribune in the days after the meeting. Instead, PenMet director of administration, Zemorah Murray, emailed a statement that said the district “strongly disagrees with the allegations that are being made.”
The PenMet letter alleges Wilson did not follow standard operating procedure while on the job. It refers to instances where Wilson closed the parks in an incorrect order, three hours Wilson was unaccounted for on the job, and Wilson’s complaints about a pesticide license PenMet required, which he has since acquired.
Wilson asked a supervisor if he’d get a raise for having the new pesticide license. He showed the Tribune a text message exchange in which the supervisor told him there was “no incentive other than making me proud.”
Wilson replied: “Unfortunately, that doesn’t pay the bills.” The letter firing him cites that line.
Six members of the public rose from their seats during the public comment period of the July 18 meeting and walked to the podium to tell the board they believe Wilson should have his job back.
“Stardio Wilson is a fantastic employee. He is reliable, positive and extremely knowledgeable about the culture here at PenMet,” Garrett Thompson said. He worked with Wilson for four years and quit the day Wilson was fired.
Dan Watson currently works at PenMet and worked with Wilson for two years. His hands shook while he looked directly at the board and argued on behalf of his former grounds specialist coworker.
“Without a doubt, Stardio is one of the nicest guys I’ve met in my entire life,” Watson told the board. “I cannot reiterate enough how much I enjoyed working with him.”
Madelyn Hunter, a Gig Harbor community member running to be a PenMet Parks commissioner, came to the meeting in support of Wilson.
“Hire back Stardio… . He’s a great worker, we love him, the community loves him, this is something we can do together,” Hunter told the board.
Wilson chose not to speak at the podium. He said he held back tears while listening to his supporters and friends.
“It was amazing. I don’t get emotional often, but I was getting there,” Wilson said after the meeting.
‘No, that’s Stardio and he’s just closing.’
Wilson was born in Liberia, and was adopted and moved to the Gig Harbor area at six years old, he said. He’s lived in the area ever since.
Wilson still has ties with family back home.
“Every month or so I send money back home to help keep my brother in school and help keep my sister in school,” Wilson said.
Wilson said he experienced racial discrimination during his time at PenMet. He said one example was his first interaction with Ryan, who started at PenMet in December 2021. Within Ryan’s first month, he saw Wilson on the Fox Island Fishing Pier listening to music while working. Ryan allegedly asked other employees who the Black man was breaking into the pier, Wilson said.
“The former boss, Ron Martinez, was close by and looked at him dumbfounded ... . ‘No, that’s Stardio and he’s just closing,’” Wilson said.
In another instance, after Wilson cleaned a PenMet maintenance building, he got into his work vehicle and after a few seconds Ryan rushed over.
“He sprinted to me trying to tell me to put on a seat belt,” Wilson said. “He made something small into something massive.”
Wilson said another interaction with Ryan that made him uncomfortable happened after he was fired, when he was dropping off his keys.
“I stopped to say ‘What’s up?’ to my old coworkers,” Wilson said. “Instead of going on with his day, [Ryan] tried to make me leave the park ... he told me I had no right to be in a public park.”
Unfair labor practice complaint
Teamsters Local 313 is in the process of bargaining a union contract with PenMet grounds specialists. Wilson filed an unfair labor practice complaint backed by the Teamsters against PenMet with the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) regarding his termination June 16.
The complaint alleges PenMet was in the process of bargaining a Teamsters contract when they changed the standard operating procedure for opening and closing parks. Those changes led to Wilson’s termination, the complaint says.
The president of PenMet’s board of commissioners, Steve Nixon, said at the board meeting that they intend to work with the PERC to address the complaint.
“The board supports the district response to the Unfair Labor Practice process with PERC, that we continue to bargain in good faith and that we respond as appropriate to any complaints from employees that come to the board through established policies and procedures,” Nixon said.
Nixon declined to provide further comment about Wilson’s firing, citing privacy concerns.
Wilson and his ex-coworkers plan to return to every monthly meeting until he is rehired or they receive a statement with more details about his firing, Wilson said after the meeting.
PenMet’s next Board of Park Commissioners meeting will be 6 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Arletta Schoolhouse.
This story was originally published July 26, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
