Oklahoma: Altus officials, plaintiffs reach agreement on language policy

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Altus officials, plaintiffs reach agreement on language policy

OKLAHOMA CITY Altus officials have reached an agreement with a group of
Hispanic workers over the city's English-only policy. Eleven municipal
employees challenged the city's policy in federal court, winning a key
victory at the Tenth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver in January.
Attorney Mark Hammons said the appeals court ruled English-only policies
were harmful to minority employees.

The settlement includes a confidentiality agreement, but Hammons and an
attorney for the city confirmed it would lead to a revised policy for
speaking Spanish. Altus City Attorney Catherine Coke said she thinks the
new policy will allow employees to speak Spanish at work. The lawsuit was
filed in March 2003.

http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=5494167

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