Justice Dept. files suit on behalf of vet

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department said it filed a lawsuit on behalf of an Air Force reservist, accusing his employer of violating the reservist's employment rights.

The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City charges that the city of Iola, Kan., violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act when it disciplined Randall Slocum and denied him overtime and a pay increase, the department said Wednesday in a release. The law was enacted to protect service personnel from being discriminated against by their employers because of military service obligations.

"Soldiers must be able to serve their country without fear of being penalized in the civilian careers," said Grace Chung Becker, acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department remains committed to vigorously enforcing federal laws that protect the employment rights of men and women who are serving in our nation's military."