A Raytheon VP's suit alleges race, sex bias

A vice president of defense contractor Raytheon Co. sued the Waltham company and one of its top executives today, contending she is a victim of race and sex discrimination.

Cassandra Matthews alleges that Raytheon and her superior, chief information officer Rebecca Rhoads, subjected her to a hostile work environment for not conforming ‘‘to a meek and subservient stereotype.’’

‘‘Raytheon is proud of its record of employee relations and believes there is no merit to these claims,’’ said spokesman Jon Kasle.

Matthews, an employee of the company since March 2005, said in papers filed in US District Court in Boston that Rhoads ‘‘disrespected’’ her by canceling meetings and refusing to speak with her. She also contended that after she reported the situation to management in July 2005 and again in May 2007 her supervisors retaliated, including giving her a pay raise that trailed corporate recommendations.

The suit seeks an injunction to stop discriminatory practices and unspecified monetary damages.
(Reuters)