Grape Nursery Accused of Retaliating Against Filipino Workers

Sunridge Nurseries Inc. is accused in a new EEOC lawsuit of refusing to recall Filipino seasonal employees who complained about race discrimination.

The alleged retaliation by the Bakersfield, Calif., grapevine nursery first occurred at the start of the 2014–2015 season, and followed complaints about discrimination in pay, job assignments, and other working conditions, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges.. Marcelino Cadiz and other Filipino employees complained internally with Sunridge, but nothing was done and the preferential treatment of non-Filipino workers continued, the EEOC says in the Sept. 26 federal suit.

Cadiz and four other Filipino workers eventually filed charges with ...