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ACLU Files Complaint Over Whole Foods Spanish Flap In Albuquerque

Whole Foods Market

A civil rights group has filed complaints against Whole Foods Market with a New Mexico agency for allegedly discriminating against Spanish-speaking employees at an Albuquerque store.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico said Tuesday that it filed the complaints with the New Mexico Human Rights Bureau on behalf of employees Bryan Baldizan and Lupe Gonzalez.

The employees said last month a Whole Foods store suspended them for a day for complaining about a company policy they say prevented them from speaking Spanish while on the job.

News of the policy sparked outraged from Latino groups nationally and the Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market Inc. later revised its rules.

A Whole Foods spokeswoman says the company plans to respond directly to the Human Rights Bureau if and when it receives a complaint.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.