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Article: Bill would address English-only policies in workplace.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- September 5, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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SAN JOSE, Calif. _ Jesus Cuellar was hired in part for his ability to speak Spanish to customers. But when it came to speaking with fellow employees, his bilingual skills weren't welcome.
His supervisor at the Department of Health Services in Berkeley handed him a written policy stating that he could only speak Spanish to colleagues during breaks and lunch hours.
"I was shocked," said Cuellar, 36, a native of El Salvador. "I felt discriminated against."
A bill on Gov. Gray Davis' desk seeks to address the concerns of workers like Cuellar, who think they should be allowed to speak whatever language they please in the workplace.
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