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EEOC visits Dallas gurdwara to create greater
awareness
WSN Network
NEW YORK:
The Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) visited
Dallas'
Gurdwara Singh Sabha recently, in an effort to educate the Sikh
community about employment discrimination, and to provide strategies
to prevent, address, and contest discriminatory practices.
Approximately
500 people were in attendance, listening as EEOC officials explained
the many facets of workplace discrimination. The EEOC highlighted
many of the issues Sikhs face at the workplace, and explained ways
to counter them. Representing the EEOC were Belinda F.
McCallister and
Beverly Squire, both EEOC Investigators, and Michael Fetzer,
Director of the EEOC Regional Office in Dallas.The EEOC is a federal
agency working to end employment discrimination within the United
States, primarily by reviewing and litigating cases on behalf of
employees who are victims of workplace discrimination. In addition,
the EEOC made apresentation informing the congregation of their
rights in the workplace, detailing discrimination regarding hiring,
pay raises, and promotions. EEOC representatives also discussed what
to do if discrimination occurs and how to seek redress.
Brochures and pamphlets were also distributed to the attendees,
covering many of the issues in the presentation.
In a press
release, Harpreet Singh, Legal Director of United Sikhs, said "The
EEOC is collaborating with United Sikhs to create educational
programs to inform the EEOC staff regarding discriminatory practices
that the Sikh community encounters, and to instruct the Sikhs about
their rights in the workplace." Commenting on the collaborative
effort, Fetzer stated, "We are looking forward to working with the
Sikh community and we thank United Sikhs for the opportunity to
speak and to learn about the Sikh faith."In an effort to create a
better dialogue and understanding on the Sikh faith and community,
United Sikhs have been requested to present a seminar about Sikhism
at the Dallas EEOC office, going into detail about the turban and
other Sikh articles of faith.
"We appreciate
the hospitality displayed by the Sikhs in allowing us to come and
address their community. This has been an educational experience for
us, and we hope to use this information to help Sikh Americans arm
themselves against workplace discrimination," McCallister stated.
"United Sikhs thanks the EEOC representatives for taking time out to
provide this information. We are collaborating our efforts with the
EEOC to raise awareness in the Sikh community." United Sikhs
director based in Dallas, Gurvinder Singh commented.
20
February 2008
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