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Former SFPUC employees and labor advocates allege retaliation, call for investigation
Summary
Multiple speakers during public comment, including Joseph King and Adolfo Padilla Rios, said they were wrongfully terminated, described retaliatory or discriminatory treatment, and urged the commission to investigate; labor advocates called for reinstatement and accountability.
San Francisco — Several former employees and labor advocates used the SFPUC public-comment period to allege wrongful terminations, retaliation and racially discriminatory treatment at the Water Enterprise, and asked commissioners for independent review and remediation.
Joseph King, who identified himself as a lifetime San Francisco resident and a former supervisor in the Water Enterprise, said he was promoted five times during his tenure and became the first Polynesian to hold his supervisory role. King told commissioners he ‘‘believes I’m a victim of retaliation, harassment, bullying, and false accusations’’ and said internal reports and investigations were ‘‘fabricated and misleading’’ and led to his termination. He described severe emotional distress following his dismissal and said he sought accountability and justice.
Adolfo Padilla Rios and other commenters gave parallel accounts, saying managers displayed ‘‘bullying’’ behavior, posted large photos of employees during an investigation that breached privacy, and created a climate of fear that disproportionately affected particular demographic groups. Labor organizer Steve Zeltzer accused the agency and management of systemic racism and cronyism, said workers had been framed, and urged the commission to reinstate affected workers and hold managers accountable.
Commission staff accepted documents from speakers and acknowledged receipt; no formal investigation findings or personnel actions were announced at the meeting. The commission did not take immediate action but members and staff indicated they would receive submitted materials and that other administrative or legal avenues exist for complaints.
The allegations were raised during the general public-comment period; commissioners did not vote or direct a specific formal inquiry during the meeting. The commission’s meeting record shows that multiple callers and witnesses also raised related concerns about fairness and process, and some asked for union or city-level review.
