Oklahoma: Altus Officials, Plaintiffs Reach Agreement On Language Policy

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Altus Officials, Plaintiffs Reach Agreement On Language Policy

AP - 10/4/2006 6:13 AM OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- 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 US 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.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=112115

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