Fired IT Workers Sue Disney Over Discrimination

Earlier this year, the Disney corporation triggered nationwide outrage when it decided to lay off over 200 IT workers in order to make way for cheap foreign labor. As if this wasn’t humiliating enough, the company forced them to train their H-1B replacements as they prepared to take their jobs. Incensed by their treatment, thirty of the fired workers have filed a lawsuit against Disney for discriminating against them on account of their race and national origin:

“Congress created the H-1B visa program in 1990 to allow a limited number of high-tech workers to enter the United States to fill jobs with a shortage of American workers. The program is capped at 85,000 six-year visas per year, although exemptions are allowed for people working in universities.

Some companies have argued for increases in the visas, saying they help companies fill legitimate needs in their tech workforces.

The lawsuit seeks compensation for the Disney workers’ lost wages and reinstatement to similar jobs.

“As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s willful and reckless discrimination against Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs have suffered and will continue to experience pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, and loss of earnings and other employment benefits and job opportunities,” the lawsuit says.

In their previous lawsuit, Perrero and Moore said Disney and its outsourcing firms made false statements on certifications for the visa program. The H-1B program requires employers to state whether current employees would be “adversely affected” when a company hires foreign workers through the program.”

Source: Orlando Sentinel