Martin Bally said Campbell’s food is “highly processed” for “poor people”. And that Indians are “idiots”.
Martin Bally is, or was, vice president of the IT department at Campbell’s. And it caused two moments of turmoil internally, with issues that also reached abroad.
Campbell’s is a US company that produces canned soups and related products such as sauces and other foods. It presents itself as a company that makes “quality soups, sauces and recipes” – but Martin doesn’t agree.
Robert Garza, a former Campbell’s employee, filed a lawsuit against Martin Bally and the company (see below).
In this process there is a audio recording, in which Martin is heard saying that Campbell’s products are “highly processed foods” for “poor people.”
In the same case, it is alleged that Martin Bally stated that workers Indians were “idiots” and, furthermore, “expressed his aversion” to working with Indians. I didn’t want to work with them.
The company analyzed the recording: “After analysis, we believe that the voice on the recording is, in fact, that of Martin Bally”, concluded James F. Regan, director of external communications at Campbell’s, in a statement sent to .
The company fired this executive. For alleged racist speech and derogatory comments about the company. The decision was communicated at the end of November.
Martin Bally had already been suspended, mainly because of racist comments, but now, putting everything together, he was actually fired.
“The comments were vulgar, offensive and false, and we apologize for the pain they caused,” said James F. Regan.
Some of Martin Bally’s social media profiles were blocked on the day the dismissal was announced.
But, still going back to the origin of the case, Robert Garza, the former Campbell’s employee, claims that he had already informed his superior about Bally’s comments – but did not receive clear instructions on how to proceed with a human resources complaint.
The complainant alleges that was fired “abruptly” in the same month, as retaliation for complaining about Bally’s “racist behavior”.
