PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - An employee of Rhode Island’s Newport Grand Casino has alleged she has been paid significantly less than a younger male employee with the same job and filed a discrimination lawsuit against the facility on Wednesday.
The casino violated federal and state laws banning workplace discrimination based on gender and age, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island and an attorney representing Narragansett resident Paula Borrelli.
Borrelli, who is in her 60s, has worked as night manager on duty since 2008, according to the suit filed in federal court.
She learned in December 2016 that a younger male colleague with similar seniority was paid about $4,000 more annually. She asked for a raise but was denied without explanation in May 2017, according to the suit.
“When I became aware that my fellow colleague who is a man was receiving more money than I was for the same job we were both doing, I was quite surprised. So was he,” she said in a statement.
In addition, the casino hired a person at a higher salary with less experience, who Borrelli was assigned to train, and whose initial job duties were identical to hers.
Borrelli is seeking a court ruling declaring the casino’s conduct unlawful, unspecified damages and back pay based on what she would have earned had she been paid equally.
A spokeswoman for Twin River Management Group, which operates Newport Grand, said they do not comment on personnel matters or lawsuits.
Newport Grand is scheduled to close when its license is transferred to a new casino in Tiverton that opens in September.
Borrelli has been offered a job at the Tiverton casino, the ACLU said.
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