Grape Stock Supplier Failed to Rehire a Class of Workers After They Complained of Unequal Treatment, Federal Agency Charges
FRESNO, CALIF. - Sunridge Nurseries, Inc., a Bakersfield-based company specializing in grape stock, violated federal law by refusing to rehire a class of workers after they filed complaints about receiving unequal treatment compared to non-Filipino employees, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced in a lawsuit filed today.
According to the EEOC's lawsuit, five former employees complained about the treatment of Filipino farmworkers to the company and filed charges of discrimination with the EEOC. The employees, some rehired every season for more than two decades, were not rehired by the nursery in subsequent seasons because of their complaints of discriminatory treatment.
Such alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits retaliating against employees for complaining about discrimination. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California (EEOC v. Sunridge Nurseries, Inc., Case No. 1:19-cv-01365-AWI-JLT) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its voluntary conciliation process. The EEOC's suit seeks monetary damages for a class of employees, as well as injunctive relief intended to prevent and correct any future discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
"Retaliation is still the most filed charge with the EEOC," said Anna Park, regional attorney for EEOC's Los Angeles District Office, which includes Fresno in its jurisdiction. "The EEOC is very concerned about ensuring the rights of individuals who file complaints of discrimination and harassment."
Melissa Barrios, the EEOC's Fresno local office director, said, "Retaliating against employees who complain of discrimination can have a chilling effect on other employees, especially those in the farming community. The EEOC strives to educate employees and employers of their rights and obligations under the law in order to eradicate retaliation in the workplace."
According to its website, www.sunridgenurseries.com, Sunridge Nurseries is a family-owned grapevine nursery that propagates and grafts grape nursery stock.
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov.
