Transportation Company Settles EEOC Racial Discrimination Suit for $75,000

Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

MEMPHIS, Tenn.–A marine construction and transportation company located in Dyersburg, Tenn., will pay $75,000 to an African-American job applicant to settle a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

In its lawsuit, the EEOC charged the company violated federal law by refusing to hire a black job applicant for a deckhand position because of his race. The EEOC charged that the company has for decades segregated its work force and has refused to hire blacks in deckhand positions. The EEOC further charged that the company violated the record-keeping provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it failed to properly maintain medical and personnel records.

Race discrimination in hiring violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, Eastern Division, after first attempting to settle the matter through its conciliation process.

In  addition to monetary relief, the three-year consent decree settling the lawsuit enjoins the company from further discriminating against blacks in  hiring and requires it to use its best efforts to fill up to 25% of available  positions with African-Americans. The consent decree further provides for training both on and off its vessels on employee rights under Title VII, and requires the company to maintain records of discrimination complaints, provide annual reports to the EEOC, and post a notice to employees about the lawsuit that includes the EEOC’s contact information.

“Employees should not be subjected to racial discrimination in hiring, as it is a violation of federal law,” said Faye Williams, Regional Attorney for the EEOC’s Memphis District Office. “The EEOC will continue to ensure that such barriers to employment are removed.”

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov..

For more information on employment discrimination laws, or how to protect your company from potential liability with the latest updates and training, please contact Berkshire Associates at 800.882.8904 or email bai@berkshireassociates.com.