FORT MYERS (Florida) NEWS-PRESS

September 29, 2009

Immokalee tomato grower named in Haitian discrimination suit

By DICK HOGAN

Six L’s Packing Company (Six L’s), an Immokalee-based company specializing in growing, packing, and distributing tomatoes, and related companies LFC Agricultural Services Inc. and Custom Pak Inc., are being accused by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of discriminating against Haitians, according to an EEOC release.

The companies are charged in an EEOC lawsuit with violating federal law when they subjected Haitian employees to harassment, disciplined Haitians more severely, and fired Haitians because of their national origin, race, and in retaliation for complaining about the treatment, the EEOC release states.

Hispanic managers and employees repeatedly called Haitian production workers derogatory names and subjected them to physical abuse and frequently insulted Haitians, calling them “pinche Haitian,” “stupid” and “cannibals,” according to the release.