Temporary staffing firm Labor Solutions of Alabama LLC, formerly known as East Coast Labor Solutions LLC, violated federal law by subjecting Latino workers to unequal working conditions and failing to provide accommodations to those with disabilities, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged in a discrimination lawsuit filed Nov. 15.

According to the EEOC’s complaint, the company recruited Hispanic workers to work at a Pilgrim’s Pride poultry processing facility in Guntersville, Ala. After hire, the company subjected the Latino workers to less favorable terms and conditions of employment than non-Hispanic workers, said the federal agency. The lawsuit alleges Latino workers were segregated in less desirable, more hazardous positions; paid less; and provided fewer hours than their non-Hispanic counterparts. In addition, East Coast Labor Solutions deducted relocation, housing and transportation fees from the workers’ pay. EEOC further claims East Coast Labor Solutions did not address complaints made by the Latino workers about ongoing harassment.

The suit also alleges East Coast Labor Solutions violated federal law when it refused to accommodate the disabilities of the Hispanic workers, many of whom developed repetitive motion impairments due to the working conditions at Pilgrim’s Pride.

“In addition to national origin discrimination, this case involves violations of the rights of people with disabilities,” said Delner-Franklin Thomas, district director of EEOC’s Birmingham District Office. “When employers ignore requests for disability accommodations made by any employee, whether temporary or permanent, foreign- or domestic-born, they may run afoul of federal law.”

The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring that the company comply with the ADA and Title VII. In addition, EEOC also seeks lost wages and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, and other relief.

The EEOC filed suit in US. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, (EEOC v. East Coast Labor Solutions of AL, LLC f/k/a East Coast Labor Solutions, LLC, Case No.4:16-cv-1848 SGC) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.