Floyd Collins said it happened in September, but has decided to come forward because the harassment is getting worse.
Collins has worked for Goodyear Tire company on Ramsey Street for more than 20 years. He says the past four months he has worked in a hostile environment.
In September, after being approved to work on the company's new VMI computer-based tire building machine, he says someone left a noose on his work place tool box.
"I though it was a prank," Collins said. "But as I got closer, I saw it was a hangman's noose. And as I got closer, the first thing I did instead of ... my first reaction was to pull my camera out and take a picture."
Collins said he found a paper doll with a noose around its neck and saw disturbing writing in black.
The longtime Goodyear employee crossed the picket line during the company's recent strike. Collins' hard hat has also been vandalized with strike-related words.
"I'm assuming they were trying to spray paint scab because it was spray paint," Collins said. "It ran, but there's no doubt about what's on the front of it."
Collins says employees parade past his work area with "no scab" tee-shirts. He says there's a simple reason he has not told anybody about the noose and alleged harassment.
"All that went through my head is, I can't, I got to stay focused on this VMI," Collins said. "I want to be on this VMI. I want this job. I don't want anything to take this job a way from me so I just put it aside."
Darryl Jackson, union president, is concerned that it's taken four months for Collins to come forward. Jackson says if the allegations are true, the union will recommend stiff punishment.
"My first response was if someone did put a noose on Floyd's hat or toolbox or whatever it was, and if they did put the words that was supposedly put on it, the individual ought to be fired immediately," Jackson said.
Collins has not met with union leaders and the company did not return calls made by Eyewitness News. However, Jackson says an intense investigation into the incident is underway.
