Wistrom participated in a meeting where WDVA Secretary Ken Black made his remarks. Following that meeting, department employee Randall Nitschke filed a discrimination complaint alleging that he was demoted because he was a man who was too old and the wrong race, according to Wistrom's attorney, Peter Fox, of Fox & Fox, S.C.
To corroborate his complaint, Nitschke sought affidavits from fellow employees who were present and heard Black's derogatory remarks about old white male employees of the department. Wistrom informed his supervisors that he had been asked for an affidavit and would provide truthful information regarding the statements made by Black.
Wistrom had been successfully employed as the Assistant Administrator of Homes in Union Grove, Wis. at the time he provided his affidavit. However, shortly after submitting his testimony regarding the Black comments, he was summarily ordered by his superiors to report to an undefined position in Madison, Wis. The new job would require a commute of more than 200 miles, travel that would pose a danger to Wistrom due to severe disabilities arising from his military service.
The WDVA refused to consider accommodating his disabilities by allowing him to remain in his Union Grove position. The department also refused his multiple requests for information regarding the expected job duties of the new position.
"Colonel Wistrom made the commute and reported for duty in Madison on October 25, 2010. Predictably, the travel made him ill. To avoid further damage to his health and potential danger to others on the highway, Colonel Wistrom was forced to retire," said attorney Fox.
Wistrom served around the world in the Air Force for nearly 30 years, including a joint service assignment in Europe with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and lengthy service in senior level personnel management positions. He became a permanent employee of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs in 2002
"Although Gov. Doyle has proclaimed that veterans bring unique qualifications to both private and state government employment, the WDVA appears to view military service as undesirable baggage for employment in their department. The department is also directed to give special consideration to veterans such as Colonel Wistrom who have been disabled by their service to our country and not to, once again, put them in harm's way as part of their civilian employment," says Fox.
Source: Fox & Fox, S.C.
