HOUSTON (AP) April 22, 2005 - A National Hispanic organization has filed a
class-action complaint with the Justice Department on behalf of Latino city of
Houston employees.
The
complaint by the League of United Latin American Citizens details numerous
incidents of alleged mistreatment of Latino city employees.
The
complaint includes allegations of ethnic and sexual harassment and
discriminatory hiring, firing and promotions. The complaint also alleges that
Latinos have been kept from participating in the city's Safe Clear program. That
program awarded 29 contracts to eleven companies to handle towing on area
freeways.
A
spokesman for Houston Mayor Bill White says LULAC leaders wouldn't release a
copy of the complaint to the city legal department. But the spokesman says the
mayor has stated emphatically that the city takes care not to violate
anti-discrimination laws and policies.
