Mike Devries, 47, a manager in the company's maintenance department and a Kodak employee for 28 years, could not agree more.

On July 30, a group of past and current Kodak employees sued the company, accusing it of systematically discriminating against African-Americans.

Or, they can ask that their gripe be heard by a panel of peers, drawn from a group of Kodak employees who volunteered for special training.

Not surprisingly, donations by Kodak employees to the United Way of Rochester have also dropped.

"It's not news to jump up and down about," said Vincent J. Flow, a Kodak employee of 29 years who works as a research scientist.

No Kodak employees are in attendance.

A longtime Kodak employee, Richard Bourns, was named general manager on an acting basis.

Danka hired thousands of Kodak employees.

"We really raised the ire of Kodak employees, because no one wants to be told they are not the best," Mr. Samper said.

Some 10,400 Kodak employees would be offered jobs at Danka; 6,000 of them the United States.