HARRIS TEETER DENIES BIAS

MARTIN SCHNEIDER

MATTHEWS, N.C. -- Harris Teeter here told SN last week it dismissed workers last month because they were undocumented, not because they were of Hispanic origin.

Jessica Graham, spokeswoman for Harris Teeter, told SN that the terminations resulted from a notification by the Social Security Administration that listed names of employees whose Social Security numbers did not match up with SSA records.

"We have not been stepping up on the procedure, and this has nothing to do with the events of Sept. 11, as some may think," Graham said.

"According to the law, these employees with discrepancies were given three weeks to provide proper documentation. Most of those who could not furnish the proper documents quit on their own. Unfortunately, the law requires us to terminate all employees who cannot provide proper identification," Graham said.

Graham also said that more than half of the employees listed by the SSA as having discrepancies rectified the situation and are still employed at Harris Teeter. Graham also noted that the employees brought to attention were not solely immigrants, but came from all demographics.

"I was recently married, and had I not given notification of my name change with SSA, I would also have been on the list," Graham told SN.

The Rev. Maria Palmer of the Church of Christ here has reportedly claimed Harris Teeter unfairly fired several Hispanic employees who could not furnish the company with proper identification.

Calls by SN to Palmer's office were not returned.

Palmer said Harris Teeter fired long-term employees who were known to have incorrect documentation, according to articles in local newspapers. However, Graham told SN that none of the employees were employed more than five years.