Ban on Navajo language prompts debate

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2002

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and four Navajo tribal members are suing an Arizona drive-in that forbade them from speaking Navajo on the job.

According to the owners of R.D.'s Drive-In, the dispute began when some workers allegedly made rude and harassing statements in Navajo. The Kidman family claims they tried to address the employee behavior.

But eventually the drive-in gave up and institute a no-Navajo policy. Four workers quit after being asked to sign a policy against using their language and the EEOC sued.

The employees who made the offending remarks ended up quitting.

Get the Story:
Ban on Speaking Navajo Leads Restaurant Staff to Sue (The New York Times 12/20)
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Relevant Links:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - http://www.eeoc.gov