The State - News from June 26, 1988

Merced County officials have rescinded a policy that prohibited county workers from speaking foreign languages on the job. The policy, in draft form, was instituted by Health Department officials two weeks ago after some workers complained they felt excluded when some of their colleagues spoke Spanish. Nursing aide Mercy Kendall, a spokeswoman for the Spanish speakers, said workers now want written promises from officials guaranteeing their right to speak the language. One nursing aide, Lupe Romero, said she quit her job last week over the policy.