Somalian Immigrants Claim Discrimination by UPS

(Toronto, Ontario) Eight Somalia-born women have filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal claiming discrimination by United Parcel Services (UPS). The eight were temporary package sorters for the company over many months.

When a new union contract forced UPS to hire the women as permanent employees with better pay and benefits, the company told them that they would be required to raise their skirts above floor-length since the practice of wearing long skirts is considered a safety concern as a tripping hazard.

The women refused to shorten their skirts and, as a result, were given their walking papers which prompted the discrimination complaint. They contend that their skirts were fine when they were temp employees and UPS created an instantaneous "safety hazard" excuse when it was forced to hire them as permanent workers. (more)

Given the history of decisions by Canadian human rights overseers, there is no way to predict how this case will be resolved. It goes before the tribunal next week.