I expect we will see more of this coming up as governments wrestle with their ever expanding budgets and try to curtail personnel costs.
A Poteet city employee has sued his employer, charging age discrimination.
Adolfo Rodriguez, 54, the city’s public works director, took a pay cut of $6,000, or 15 percent, last year, bringing his salary down to $32,188, according to the suit.
Rodriguez oversaw the wastewater system, parks, code compliance, animal control and building inspection for the City of Poteet.
Adolfo Rodriguez, 54, the city’s public works director, took a pay cut of $6,000, or 15 percent, last year, bringing his salary down to $32,188, according to the suit.
Rodriguez oversaw the wastewater system, parks, code compliance, animal control and building inspection for the City of Poteet.
In the suit filed July 15 and in a complaint to the Texas Workforce Commission, he alleged that after his salary was cut, the city shifted a “significant portion” of his job duties to a younger employee, while employees under the age of 40 received pay increases.
Police Chief Henry Dominguez, 45, also lost $6,000 of his salary in last year’s controversial budget decisions. A police lieutenant position was reduced, along with salary, to a patrolman. The cuts were made in an effort to pay city debt.
Rodriguez alleged in the suit that city administrator Pete Maldonado gave him an ultimatum to either retire or take a pay cut last August. Maldonado would not comment.
The city’s attorney for the suit, Patrick Bernal, said the city would respond to it next week.
Mark Anthony Sanchez, Rodriguez’s attorney, said the city manager specifically targeted his client because of his age, pointing out that Maldonado mentioned retirement as an option.
Mark Anthony Sanchez, Rodriguez’s attorney, said the city manager specifically targeted his client because of his age, pointing out that Maldonado mentioned retirement as an option.
Rodriguez, who has worked for the city since 1977, filed complaints this year with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the workforce commission, which sent him a notification that he could sue his employer in June.
He is seeking an unspecified amount of damages for compensation, compensatory damages, benefits, as well as court and attorney fees.
