EEOC Upholds Latino Janitors Charges of Unfair Treatment against Employer

September 30, 2009

San Francisco - The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Wednesday filed a discrimination lawsuit against a service contractor for mistreating, harassing, and terminating Latino janitors without valid reasons.

Cindy O’Hara, the complainant’s lawyer, accused ABM Industries of violating the rights of seven janitors who have been subjected to discipline without justification and termination based on retaliation.

“Three of the complainants said their supervisors had threatened to fire them and made their working conditions unbearable by asking them to redo jobs they had already done”, O’Hara said.

In a complaint filed before the US District Court of San Francisco, the janitors are seeking compensation and a court order that will require their company to train its staff to prevent discriminatory practices.

When asked for comments, ABM Spokesman Tony Mitchell said the allegations were “already addressed and have been resolved during the arbitration proceeding.”

Mitchell also said the complaints against the company are without merit.

ABM Industries is a New York-based facilities service contractor that employs more than 100,000 janitors, security guards, and maintenance personnel.