Three former servers who worked at Hamilton’s iconic Black Forest Inn for decades are accusing the restaurant’s new owners of discriminating against them based on their age.The women, who range in age from 49 to 64, allege in human rights complaints filed last year that their former employer cut their hours at the King St. E. restaurant and replaced them with younger workers.Their case, which will be heard before the province’s human rights tribunal beginning March 27, puts the spotlight on the beloved half-century-old institution well-known in Hamilton for its hearty German and Austrian fare and beer served by staff wearing traditional outfits.Brigitte Evans, Anele Murauskas and Ilda Rosser left their jobs in late 2017 — less than a year after longtime family owners Wolfgang and Gabi Schoen sold the half-century-old restaurant.In their complaints, the Hamilton women say new management slashed their shifts to reduce the business’ operating costs while also hiring “a number of new workers who were clearly much younger” than them.While their hours dropped, the new staff were being scheduled between 30 and 40 hours a week, the women allege.The Black Forest Inn denies the allegations.“We here at the Black Forest Inn have always strived to be inclusive, diverse and welcoming,” said Paul Wells, operating partner at the restaurant. “We don’t discriminate on any basis whatsoever.”He declined to comment on the specifics of the case as it’s still before the tribunal.Both Evans, who worked at the restaurant for 36 years, and Murauskas, who was there for more than 19 years, say they were moved from night to day shifts, which typically provides less opportunity for tips.In the past, senior staff typically worked the evening shifts, Murauskas said in an interview.The restaurant says it hired new employees but “only on an as-needed basis to maintain a consistent number of staff” and that ...
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