When a New York City T.G.I. Friday's location shut down, management told their employees they would be re-hired at the new location less than a block away. It turns out that only whites, Latinos, and one light-skinned black server were re-hired. 10 black employees are suing T.G.I. Friday's for failing to re-hire them with no real explanation. They were told all positions were filled, but Craigslist continued to list openings at the new location.
Adding insult to injury, the non-black managers allegedly said they wanted to avoid the restaurant being a "ghetto store." One manager allegedly claimed he preferred to hire Latinos because they "work harder."
Two-thirds of employees at the former location were black. Former employee Levon Smith had worked at the old location for more than eight years. Now he is unemployed while most of the restaurant's new hires have little industry experience.
T. G. I. Friday's has no right to discriminate against their long-term employees just because of race. Please sign and share this petition and urge the restaurant to re-hire their old workers and apologize for their racist comments!
We are concerned with reports that a New York City T.G.I. Friday's failed to re-hire black employees after switching to a new location. We understand that only white and Latino employees, and one light-skinned black employee were re-hired, while 10 former black employees were let go with no legitimate reason.
We understand that the non-black managers of the new location allegedly said they wanted to avoid the restaurant being a "ghetto store." One manager allegedly claimed he preferred to hire Latinos because they "work harder."
Two-thirds of employees at the former location were black. Former employee Levon Smith had worked at the old location for more than eight years. Now he is unemployed, while most of the restaurant's new hires have little industry experience.
T. G. I. Friday's has no right to discriminate against their long-term employees just because of race. We urge you to re-hire their old workers and apologize for any racially insensitive comments made. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
