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Excalibur Will Settle Immigration Documents Dispute13 April 2001WASHINGTON D.C. –April 13, 2001 –AS reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “The Excalibur will pay more than $50,000 in civil penalties and back pay to 22 employees who were fired or suspended because of a dispute over immigration documents, according to the Department of Justice. ”…An investigation into the Excalibur began after Vido Zekanovic, a Bosnian refugee who worked at the casino, filed a complaint last August. Zekanovic alleged he was unjustly fired for not producing a new authorization card from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or INS. ”Zekanovic claimed his INS Form I-94 stamped `employment authorized’ should have been sufficient. ”The Justice Department's office of special counsel agreed, saying companies should accept documents that appear genuine and related to the individual employee. Companies are not allowed to demand specific or additional documents when reverifying employment eligibility, the department said. ”The Excalibur reinstated Zekanovic with full seniority, benefits and back pay Nov. 22. ”…D. Taylor, staff director of Culinary Local 226 in Las Vegas, said the union recently negotiated a new contract with casino properties that addresses immigration issues. ”…Of the 52,000 workers represented by the Culinary union, 40 percent are Latino, 8 percent are Asian and less than 1 percent are Bosnian, Taylor said. ”…`Those numbers are rising,’ he said. `That's why we've been at the forefront in supporting amnesty for these workers so they can continue working until their immigration issues are resolved. The hospitality industry would shut down without them.’…” |