As reported by the SanFrancisco Chronicle.

A janitorial service company will pay a total of $180,000 to 20 Latino janitors working in San Francisco commercial buildings and upgrade its staff training to settle a discrimination lawsuit, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Wednesday.

The commission accused ABM Industries in a 2009 lawsuit of singling out Latinos for harassment, moving them from their preferred jobs to less-desirable assignments with reduced seniority, and retaliating against them when they complained.

ABM, a nationwide firm, denied discrimination and said janitors could challenge discipline and reassignments through their union. The company did not concede any wrongdoing when it accepted the settlement.

The agreement, approved by a federal magistrate, requires the company to provide annual training for all supervisors on workplace diversity and civil rights laws.

The firm must also give a two-hour refresher course for human resources employees on handling workers' complaints, and consider managers' antidiscrimination efforts when giving their annual performance evaluations.