September 29, 2017 — A Fall River seafood processing plant and its staffing firm have been accused of allowing the sexual harassment of non-English speaking female employees in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Atlantic Capes Fisheries Inc. and BJ’s Service Co. Inc. violated federal law “by maintaining and failing to remedy a hostile work environment where female workers were subject to ongoing sexual harassment,” the commission said in a press release issued Wednesday night.
BJ’s Services Co. hired and transported workers to the Fall River facility.
In a statement issued Thursday, Atlantic Capes Fisheries accused the commission of attempting to try the case “in the court of public opinion” by releasing a statement to the media before the company was notified of the lawsuit.
Atlantic Capes denies the claims, the statement said.
After reviewing the allegations in December 2015, the company “actively investigated all sexual harassment claims as soon as they were raised,” the statement said.
“ACF is, and always has been, an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to the cultivation and maintenance of a positive workplace environment,” the company said.