The plaintiffs, Robert Smith, 39, of Fort Lauderdale; Jeffrey Grinell, 35, of Wilton Manors; and Claudia Lopez, 38, of Sunrise, were former customer service/ramp workers of the Orlando-based airline. They worked at both the presecurity ticket counters and the post-security gates at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, McGuinness said.
Each has also recently filed charges of discrimination with the Civil Rights Division of the Broward County Office of Equal Opportunity, alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation, he said.
Graham-Weaver said the airline was not aware of the discrimination allegations, so she could not comment.
McGuinness said he was first contacted regarding the discrimination charges, and each said they had ''experienced the same derogatory remarks and downright hostility.'' It was during those client meetings that he discovered the alleged 30-minute break violations, ``which shows AirTran has some significant employee-employer problems.''
He said he is seeking an as-yet unspecified reimbursement of wages, as well as that AirTran stop the practice of making employees work through their breaks.
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Each has also recently filed charges of discrimination with the Civil Rights Division of the Broward County Office of Equal Opportunity, alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation, he said.
Graham-Weaver said the airline was not aware of the discrimination allegations, so she could not comment.
McGuinness said he was first contacted regarding the discrimination charges, and each said they had ''experienced the same derogatory remarks and downright hostility.'' It was during those client meetings that he discovered the alleged 30-minute break violations, ``which shows AirTran has some significant employee-employer problems.''
He said he is seeking an as-yet unspecified reimbursement of wages, as well as that AirTran stop the practice of making employees work through their breaks.
story here
