Employees Sue over Plant's English-on-the-Job Policy

[struggle4progress]

A workplace policy that employees speak only English on the job has resulted in a lawsuit by five Spanish-speaking workers at the GC Industries Deep River, Connecticut, plant. The company, which also operates a facility in Hillside, New Jersey, processes various metals including aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and brass. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in New Haven. The workers who took the action are from Guatemala and Mexico.

The policy took effect in March 2006 and was instituted to enhance safety, according to the company. It states that: "The purpose of this is for safety, quality of product, and efficiency reasons," and notes that those in violation can be subject "to warnings either verbal and/or written, which may lead to dismissal."

Attorney Steven Jacobs, who is representing the workers, told Fox News, "I can think of no good reason for them to institute this policy." He added that: "It's offensive to people who speak Spanish and is potentially dangerous. It inhibits them from communicating in their native tongue in situations that could put people at risk." The lawsuit states that one of the five plaintiffs was fired and three others have been forced to quit.

http://safety.blr.com/display.cfm/id/105181

[Historic NY]

1. I don't think they don't have a case.............

if its a workplace requirement and the employer employees English speaking employees. If the entire plant is communicating in English, the owner is under no obligation to speak Spanish. In order to be an airline pilot one is require to speak English. English is the required international language of aviation.A person must know and speak key phrases and terms. They are not required to be fluent. Policies dictating English in the workplace may be legal if a company can show a legitimate safety or business reason, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency that enforces anti-discrimination laws.

www.hawaii.edu/sls/uhwpesl/22(2)/Gibson.pdf

[TankLV]

2. I should HOPE they don't have a fucking case!

How fucking damned ARROGANT of these assholes...