Judge sides with Pinoy nurse fired for speaking in Tagalog

FAIRFAX, Virginia – The Maryland Department of Labor reversed an order that withheld unemployment benefits from one of three Filipina nurses who were fired from a Baltimore hospital for speaking Tagalog.

Administrative judge Stuart Breslow sided with the nurses when he said in his ruling that no patient was ever put in danger when they spoke Tagalog during their break.

Breslow said Filipina nurse Corina Yap should be eligible to receive jobless benefits. The Labor Department earlier said Yap could not receive unemployment benefits because she was fired for grave misconduct.

Four Filipino employees of the Bon Secours Hospital were fired in April, for allegedly violating the hospital’s English-only policy while on duty at the emergency room.

Nurses Anna Rosales, Hachelle Natano, Yap and employee Jazziel Granada however claim they spoke Tagalog only during breaks. Breslow also said any lapses on the part of the nurses were accidental.

The nurses’ legal counsel Arnedo Valero of the nonprofit Migrant Heritage Commission said the administrative court’s ruling can boost the nurses’ discrimination complaint filed with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Valero said the nurses are considering suing Bon Secours for damages. Balitang America, –Rodney Jaleco, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau