By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
Port Isabel City Secretary Susie Alcocer has filed a lawsuit in the 103rd State District Court against the City, alleging she has been the victim of age discrimination and retaliation. According to a copy of the petition obtained by the PRESS, Alcocer is seeking between $200,000 and $1 million in damages and attorney’s fees.
The suit comes after the Civil Rights Division of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) took no action on an age discrimination complaint Alcocer, 55, filed against the City late last year.
The discrimination allegation stems from a $3-per-hour reduction of Alcocer’s pay, which took effect at the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, 2015. Since the complaint was first filed, Alcocer has alleged the pay reduction is part of a larger trend by the City of discriminating against older employees.
While Alcocer’s pay was reduced, the pay of Assistant City Secretary Nadini P. Jee was increased by a rate of $5 per hour. Wage increases were also approved by the City Commission for a number of the City’s lowest wage earners. In her suit, Alcocer states this, combined with the termination of former City Manager Edward P. Meza, 53, in May of last year, illustrates her allegation of age discrimination.
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