Sudanese immigrant sues Whole Foods, alleging discrimination
May 12, 2021 GMT
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A Sudanese immigrant who had worked for Whole Foods Market in Maine for years is suing the company, alleging it discriminated against him when a manager prevented him from applying to a supervisory role.
Mark Opio, 36, requested that the Maine Human Rights Commission look into his claim that a supervisor at the Portland Whole Foods Market store canceled his interview for an assistant team leader position, the Portland Press Herald reported on Tuesday. The commission wrote in a November letter that it found there are reasonable grounds to believe Opio was discriminated against, allowing him to sue the company.
Sudanese immigrant alleges discrimination in lawsuit against Whole Foods
Mark Opio s lawsuit says he wasn t given an opportunity to apply for a supervisory position in the Portland store.
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A Sudanese immigrant is suing Whole Foods Market, alleging that a manager at the Portland store blocked him from applying for a supervisory role.
Mark Opio
Courtesy Johnson, Webbert & Garvan, LLP
Mark Opio, 36, who immigrated to Maine 20 years ago after spending nine years in a refugee camp, said the company canceled his interview for a position as assistant team leader and alleged that he was unable to read the store’s operations manual. The lawsuit says a manager also told Opio that he hadn’t done enough to “prove” himself to others in the department where he hoped to work and failed to get co-workers to “accept you as one of them.”
South Sudanese immigrant sues Whole Foods for denying promotion
The Maine Human Rights Commission ruled in November that the company illegally discriminated against Mark Opio of Portland
Credit: Webbert & Garvan Published: 5:10 PM EDT May 11, 2021 Updated: 5:10 PM EDT May 11, 2021
PORTLAND, Maine A Portland man who emigrated from South Sudan when he was 16 is suing Whole Foods for race discrimination and retaliation.
Mark Opio filed suit in Cumberland County Superior Court Tuesday, his attorneys said in a release.
In November 2020, the Maine Human Rights Commission found reasonable grounds to believe Whole Foods and its parent company, Amazon, discriminated against Opio on the basis of race.
KENNEBUNK, Maine – Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, improving communication, and increasing the district’s focus on children and curriculum were recurring themes when the six candidates for RSU 21 School Board were recently interviewed about their campaigns.
Another theme that often popped up: all candidates are newcomers looking to step off the sidelines and onto the field to oversee the district during a challenging time in education.
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Coaches at Colby College push for equal pay, treatment
Six female coaches have filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission alleging they re paid less than their male counterparts and asked to do more work. Author: Hannah Dineen (NEWS CENTER Maine) Published: 9:57 PM EDT May 3, 2021 Updated: 11:20 AM EDT May 4, 2021
WATERVILLE, Maine
DISCLAIMER: Writer Hannah Dineen attended and played ice hockey at Colby College. Complainant Holley Tyng was not her coach while she attended Colby.
Six female Colby College coaches have filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission. The complaint alleges the coaches are asked to perform more work for less pay than their male counterparts.