NYC chef settles discrimination suit

NYC chef settles discrimination suit

	Published : Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:28 By : Agencies Print this Story

NEW YORK (AP) - Noted chef Daniel Boulud has settled a discrimination lawsuit brought by Latino and Asian workers who claimed he promoted white French workers ahead of nonwhite workers at one of his Manhattan restaurants.

The settlement announced Tuesday calls for Daniel, Boulud's flagship restaurant on the Upper East Side, to pay $80,000 in damages to the eight workers who sued; adopt a policy to ensure that race and national origin are not factors in promotions; and train managers about employment law.

The lawsuit was brought by low-paid Latino and Bangladeshi bus boys and runners whose duties include bringing bread to tables and clearing away dirty dishes. They claimed they were denied opportunities to advance to higher-paying positions such as lounge server, assistant captain or captain.

The men said they were passed over in favor of newly hired white employees with less experience and seniority, and were subjected to harassment and racial insults if they complained.

Tushar Jasvant Sheth, a lawyer with the Asian American Legal Defense organization, said workers will get 8 percent raises under the settlement.

He said the agreement, which will be policed by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, may help end pervasive discrimination in the restaurant industry.

'There is almost complete segregation in high-end dining between people who can work as waiters and people who are bus boys and runners,' he said.

Rekha Eanni, project coordinator for the advocacy group Restaurant Opportunity Center of New York, said the problems at Daniel were similar to those at other expensive restaurants. Her group organized protests outside Daniel for nearly a year before the settlement was reached.

'Workers come to us all the time saying they are being passed over for promotions because they don't have a sophisticated French accent or whatever the restaurant is looking for,' she said.

Daniel released a statement Tuesday saying it was have ry pleased to have this matter resolved and to avoid the time and expense associated with mounting a defense.'

Boulud, a native of Lyon, France, is considered one of the finest chefs in the United States. His stable of restaurants in New York includes Daniel, Cafe Boulud and DB Bistro Moderne. He also owns restaurants in Florida and Las Vegas.