I need some help,I have filed with the Texas workforce civil rights division.I was suspended on may 12 because they found some brkn laptops in a storage trl. I open up alone but I had gone for the day when they called me back to work to be questioned.I told them I had nothing to do with it and I didn't know who would. They said all the paper work pointed towards me but all the paper work points to in the whole building,I sign for everything and the frt. in question that I signed for was Cleared by the driver and by the customer as delivering clear with a tally sheet.I made a copy of the original bill.I was suspended for 14 days without pay,they said until the investigation was done,I called work everyday and they just kept telling me no word yet. 4 of my co workers were enterviewed by Co. security people but no one knew who did it or who would but they all said there was no way I would do it.2 co workers were told that all the paper work pointed towards me but they said but all the paper work points towards Tim he signs for everything,them being told that ,who ever did do it, just had to keep their mouths shut.I was called by the police and asked if I would come in I said sure,I was the only one called by the police and questioned.the officer asked me some questions and said the new laptops were worth 10 thousand dollars,I then informed the officer that the freight in question were not new but broken machines that were being returned to be refurbished. I told him that customer never recieved new machines just go backs ( broken machines ) He told me the Co. I work for told him they were new . I told him no broken ones,he looked at me and said they weren't new and I said no,he was upset being told they were new but in fact broken.He told me just write out a statement and tell him when I was done and he would let me out the door.
I was finally told that I needed to come to work and talk to the terminal manager,I sat down in his office and he said,Tim I'm giving you a final written warning because of the 10 thousand dollar theft but I said there was no theft you found the merchandise and gave it to the customer and I had nothing to do with it.he then said I didn't have a supervisor sign off on high security frt. but I said it wasn't high security.they were broken machines.He said also that I could no longer be here by myself.First of all I have my own supervisor code,I sign for all high security items with my own code,on the employee list,I'm listed twice once as a Supervisor and second as a checker,I have been doing the supervisors job for over 10 yrs. He wrote in all kinds of things on the write up and I told him it's all lies that he had written down,so I asked him what if I don't sign it,he then said if I didn't sign the write up then I couldn't come back to work,I carry the families health insurance so under deress I signed it ( I recorded all this ) now at work my hours have been cut,one supervisor told me that he said if I have to bring tim back,he'll regret being back,the other suspervisor told me that he ( terminal manager) just wants me to quit but I'm not because I carry the health insurance. do you think I have a case for False accusation,Defamation.I have him on tape telling me that I had to signed the write up or I could not come back, I have 14 days worth of manifests showing this customers freight is not high security,I have a copy of the original bill that was delivered to the customer and was signed for by the driver and customer with a tally sheet.The driver was never written up , it was short only me.
I can't go to another trucking co. because they have all heard of the matter,My terminal manager has ruined my career,I have been with the Co. for over 12 yrs. I work by myself at night if I was going to take something ,I could put it into my truck drive home and be back without anyone knowing.This terminal manager as only been with us a year and is a terminal manager because he is the friend of the district president. What do you think?
thanks in advance

No it is not illegal for them to hold you responsible for the missing laptops (or whatever they are alledging happened to them). Not even remotely. Yes, tey can take measures to ensure that it doesn't happen again. It may be unfair but it isn't illegal.

What I don't understand is who every other employer in the area knows about this? Did your employer call them all and tell them?

Some employees where called in but not all, the guy that found them was not even questioned, I was the only one suspended and called by the police to come in for questioning. 2 were told that it looked like me ! don't you think that is accusing me ? now my hours are cut and they are hiring a part timer to be there at night by themselves and to close up,so if they changed things in order for it not to hapen again, why would they hire a part timer to work by them selves ?
Thanks Tim

Even if they are accusing you, that is not illegal.

cbg, false acusations is defamation of character and slander.
tim

False accusations that you know are false and have no reason to believe are true may be defamation. Reasonable suspicion that you can not prove is not.

What I don't get is how the other trucking companies know about this.

They have a valid reason to believe that the accusations are true. Therefore, EVEN IF THEY ARE MISTAKEN, it is NOT illegal, NOT defamation, and NOT slander.