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Independent Book Store Forces Hispanic Employees To Only Speak English

Author Author:
Fidel Martinez
24 Jan 2010 | 21:24
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atticus02-popupAtticus Book Store and Cafe, located in New Haven, Connecticut, has caused a controversy over a recent policy decision to require all Hispanic employees to only speak English within a customer's earshot. The staff is allowed to speak Spanish, but only in restricted areas:
Spanish is allowed in the prep area, the dishwasher area and the lover level. Let's make our customers feel welcome and comfortable.
This new directive has pissed off members of Yale University (Atticus is located next to Yale's British Arts Center) and the New Haven Workers Association. The latter sent out an email to local community groups like the New Haven Labor Council and Unidad Latino En Accion protesting what they deem to be racism in the workplace. The students' response hasn't been favorable either, as evidenced by the comments left on the Yale Daily News website concerning this issue. One commenter wrote:
As a gringo who prefers to (try and) speak fluent Spanish whenever the chance arises, I'm very disappointed that Atticus, a SPANISH-owned store, with a MAJORITY Spanish-speaking workforce, would act this way.
Atticus is within their right to require that its employees speak English. As a business practice, however, this is just plain dumb for several reasons. First of all, their claim that it's meant to improve customer service does not make sense. From our own personal experience, the Hispanic waitstaff at Atticus speak English well enough that it doesn't impede them from taking an order properly. 1169583645_5577Also, Atticus prides itself in embracing other cultures.  The bookstore aims to provide an “atmosphere of mutual respect for cultural diversity throughout our café/book store and among the workers." The new policy, however, goes against this philosophy. Finally, Atticus' clientele is largely composed of the students and staff of Yale University, a very liberal academic institution that has worked towards immigrant's rights. Why, then, would a business that's trying to make money in a city where independent stores struggle to survive, enact a policy that would only hurt them in the long run? We called Atticus for a comment and spoke with Bill, the manager on duty. He referred to us to the statement on their website when we asked for comment. We also asked Bill about the backlash from the university, and he mentioned that he wasn't aware of any. We have a hard time believing him, but we understand his hesitance to provide any response other than the one he's been instructed to give. We also emailed Jean Marcel Récapet, Atticus' general manager, for further comment, but as of this time, we have not gotten any response.

Atticus Charged with discrimination [Yale Daily News]

What do you think?

  • LOL
  • CHISPAS
  • AY DIOS MIO
  • QUE CUTE
  • NERDO
  • NACO
  • CURSI
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atticus book store, race, racism, society, yale university

Comments

  • View ecortes's profile ecortes January 25, 2010

    "...dishwasher area and the..." wow really? really Connecticut? Are we that backwards? Let's hope there are no international students who prefer to speak Spanish, what are the workers to do then

    Reply
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  • View bananajuana1's profile bananajuana1 January 25, 2010

    whyy why does it bother them many american people love the chance to speak some spanish how crazy how stupid many mexicans customers should go and ask to be attenden in spanish

    Reply
  • View chichadechonta's profile chichadechonta January 25, 2010

    Well, according to the well-informed self-styled 'gringo' who commented on the Daily News website, Atticus is a "SPANISH-owned" store. Clearly then, the explanation is obvious. The Spaniards who run Atticus are discriminating against their Hispanic workforce because they don't like their accents. Or perhaps, the owners of Atticus are not 'SPANISH' at all? Normally I wouldn't say a gringo should refer to himself as such, but in this case, it seems, the appellation might be appropriate...

    Reply
  • View Guest's profile Guest January 26, 2010

    Really taking over the world? Why is that? Are you having more babies than you can afford in order to accomplish this. Why not be more responsible and realize tthat this is America and we speak English. Your language is a second language here.

    Reply
  • View Fidel Martinez's profile Fidel Martinez January 26, 2010

    Yup, that's how we're going to do it. We're going to multiply and eat up all the social service resources until the government crumbles from within.

    Reply
  • View Guest's profile Guest January 27, 2010

    don't forget that we're also going to take all the jobs.

    Reply
  • View Guest's profile Guest January 29, 2010

    New statement from Charlie (the manager of Atticus): "Only Spanish is permitted when your are cleaning, polishing shoes to a? white American, or shitting".

    Reply
  • View Guest's profile Guest February 5, 2010

    I cashier at a bookstore. I consider it rude to speak with coworkers at all, especially at the checkout line, when a customer is waiting. I try not to unless I have to, because a significant percentage of our customer base feels the same way. Only a few will complain, but I see the looks on customer faces when we chat with each other. To speak in a foreign language when the majority of customers speak English would worsen the situation.

    Reply
  • View Guest's profile Guest February 8, 2010

    Nice way to enlighten the dialog, Socrates. I worked there years ago and Charlie went out of his way to hire AND PROMOTE Hispanic workers, their friends, their family members for ages in different departments of his company. In fact, when I visit the store, I see people who have been there, literally, for decades. "Here to stay?" Probably knows someone who works at Atticus. Charlie even spent his own money to help better his employee's English so they have better opportunities. http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/business-news/2009/10/22/diversity-celebrated-at-atticus/ And has given back to the New Haven community ten fold. http://www.yaledailynews.com/opinion/letters/2010/01/27/letter-our-communitys-cafe/

    Reply
  • View Guest's profile Guest April 20, 2010

    I think I'm going to go down to Mexico, take some peasant's job, and demand my rights to speak English wherever and whenever I want. Oh, right—I'd probably get killed.

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