ABF Freight System, Inc., also agreed to hire 24 of the previously rejected applicants, who had applied for a checker casual position. Checker casuals are dock workers called in when there is work to be done, as opposed to part-time workers who have regular schedules.
The agreement settles the Labor Department's allegations that the trucking company discriminated against blacks and Hispanics who applied for checker casual positions from May 3, 2004, through May 3, 2006, and against female applicants from May 3, 2004, through April 30, 2007.
According to the agreement, ABF will pay 778 black, Hispanic and female applicants a total of $300,000 in back pay and interest and hire 24 of them for the checker casual job. The company also agreed to self-monitoring measures ensuring its hiring practices comply with the law, according to a statement from the Labor Department.
"This administration is committed to ensuring that all Americans are hired, promoted and compensated fairly, without respect to their race, gender, ethnicity, disability, religion or veteran status," said Charles E. James Sr., a spokesman for the department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
"ABF admits no fault and does not believe it was discriminating in its hiring practices in Dallas," Danny Loe, director of marketing and public relations for the company, said in a statement.
"ABF believes it was acting appropriately in hiring at a rate equivalent to the local demographics (approximately two-thirds minorities) but the OFCCP alleged that ABF should hire minorities at a rate equivalent to ABF's percentage of total applicants (80% minorities). For this instance, OFCCP alleged that ABF hired 23 too few minorities and women over a two year period." [ Via Chron.com ]
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
