A FedEx driver in Utah claims that the company fired him because of his Russian accent. The driver, Ismail Aliyev filed a lawsuit against Fed Ex and the contactor that employed him and was told to fire him reported the Associated Press.
The lawsuit was filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City and Aliyev is filing for lost wages and punitive damage.
Aliyev, who worked for GNB Trucking Co. in West Valley near Salt Lake City is suing both GNB Trucking Co. and FedEx. GNB Trucking Company provides drivers for Fed Ex and operates Fed Ex trucks.
Aliyev said to the AP, "I think for a driver, my English is not too bad." He said that an Iowa weigh station gave his company a warning about his accent as one of the requirments is the ability to communicate. His Lawyer Robert H. Wilde added to the AP that Aliyev's accent is "very understandable." Wilde told the AP that GNB wanted to keep him as an employee but was told by FedEx to fire him.
Aliyev, who is a Turk and was living in Russia, was forced to leave the country in 2005 under a political refugee status in Utah. Aliyev has had a commercial license since 20o9. His lawyer added to the AP that he was driving without any issues before FedEx ordered him to be terminated. "FedEx just decided they didn't want to deal with him, or even talk to him."
Wilde also added to the AP that Aliyev offered to fly to the FedEx headquarters to prove his language ability but they said no.
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