So say nine of the New York Times‘ own employees, who have filed a lawsuit against the paper charging they were subjected to racial and religious discrimination at the paper’s Edison, N.J., printing plant.

According to The Jewish Times, the suit includes complaints that supervisors aimed racial and religious epithets at employees ? or ignored such epithets coming from others ? and that Hispanic, black, and Jewish employees were denied seniority rights, promotions and pay scales commensurate with their years of service as well as plum assignments that would have enabled them to pick up overtime pay.

The newspaper maintains “a hostile and pervasive work environment” based upon “the widespread use of racial and religious epithets” and the “disparate treatment” of employees “based upon race, color, national origin, and religion,” according to the 16-page complaint.

“This stuff is highly pervasive and of long standing in the sewer where these people have been working,” said one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Jeffrey Bernbach of White Plains, N.Y., in an interview with New Jersey Jewish News.

“The New York Times has long been aware of it and has done nothing to clean it up…”

The Times management has denied the allegations.

Right. Because THEY’RE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY.

Maureen, how about a column about this? Or how about you, Gerry? Howell?

Anyone? Anyone?