NEW YORK – The US Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission has settled a national origin discrimination
lawsuit it filed against a small group of pizzeria restaurants based in
Wappingers Falls and Fishkill.
According to the federal commission, Antonella’s Restaurant &
Pizzeria, Inc., JTA, Inc., and Dellicap, LLC, doing business as Grand
Central Grill – collectively Antonella’s – discriminated against
Hispanic employees by subjecting them to name calling, slurs, and creating
and maintaining a hostile work environment because of their national origin.
Antonella’s also unlawfully demanded that the workers speak only
English in the workplace without a business reason for the requirement,
the federal commission said.
As a result, the company will pay $50,000 and provide other relief to
settle the case including extensive safeguards to prevent future discrimination
by implementing anti-discrimination policies, training and problem-solving
procedures.
