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EEOC sues Sako Corp.
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Posted on Jul 02 1999
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed two federal lawsuits against garment firm Sako Corp. for allegedly discriminating against pregnant employees and for allegedly retaliating against a worker who earlier helped co-workers in filing a labor case.
The EEOC’s first complaint filed Wednesday at the US District Court on Saipan, alleged that Sako Corp. have forced its female workers to take early pregnancy leave without pay “for no apparent medical reasons.”
The company, according to EEOC, refused to pay medical benefits and expenses for pregnancy.
In the second complaint, EEOC said that Sako “retaliated” against factory worker Carmencita Abad, who has assisted her co-workers in filing complaints about “behavior she believed to be unlawful discrimination.”
Sako attempted to fire Abad, according to EEOC.
To prevent her loss of job and potential deportation, EEOC obtained a preliminary injunction in October 1998, stopping Sako from terminating Abad’s employment contract.
“Consistent with other government data, we are finding immigrant workers are being denied basic civil rights. This case involves retaliation against people who assist workers to assert their rights,” said William R. Tamayo, regional attorney in EEOC’s San Francisco District Office.
Susan McDuffie, district director for the San Francisco office, said that “treating pregnant employees differently from other employees in terms and conditions of their employment clearly violates the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.”
EEOC is seeking compensation for the past and future damages resulting from Sako’s alleged discrimination practice.
