A Jewish couple is suing the state, a Salt Lake businesswoman and a private janitorial service for alleged discrimination.
William and Nancy Silverman worked as janitors at the Capitol until 1992, when they were not rehired after the janitorial contract changed hands.The husband and wife, in the suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, claim they lost their jobs due to discrimination by the state and the new employer, Salt Lake-based Dawes Janitorial Inc.
The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, includes six causes of action, ranging from failure to hire to charges of retaliatory discrimination.
Dawes owner Linda Foust, also named in the action, declined to comment Thursday, other than to say there are two sides to the story. She referred all calls to her attorneys, who were not immediately available.
Prior to the new janitorial contract, the Silvermans were harassed in April 1992 when anti-semitic signs were placed on their work locker in the Capitol, according to the suit.
They complained about the graffiti and an investigation ensued, resulting in at least one employee being held responsible.
After that, however, the couple claims they were labeled as troublemakers for their complaints and were intentionally not rehired after the contract was rebid and awarded to Dawes.
A variety of transgressions by the new contract-holder and the state's Division of Facilities Construction and Management are described in the suit, including an alleged campaign to cover up the conflict with the Silvermans.
The couple claims they were consequently black-balled from getting new jobs in Salt Lake City. Despite "excellent" references, the couple completed 31 interviews over three months with no luck, a situation that forced them to move out of state, according to the complaint.
Before the Silvermans' claims were listed in the ACLU lawsuit, the couple filed complaints with the Utah Anti-Discrimination Division, eventually resulting in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission finding "reasonable cause" to believe the couple faced discrimination and retaliation because of their religion and race, the suit states.
The Silvermans, ages 55 and 59, now live in Ohio.