Monday, April 21, 2008

Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries to pay $1.5 million to resolve discrimination allegations

By Pegasus News wire

DALLAS — Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. has entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to settle allegations of hiring discrimination based on race and gender and agreed to a settlement of $1.5 million.

Photo not provided by Vought, Dept. of Labor

Chalk up another "L" for the Rich White Guys

"The Department of Labor is committed to ensuring that workers seeking employment with federal contractors and subcontractors are hired, promoted and compensated fairly, without regard to their race, gender, color, ethnicity, disability, religion or veteran status," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This settlement of $1.5 million on behalf of 1,045 minority and female applicants should put all federal contractors on notice that such discrimination will not be tolerated."

OFCCP investigators found that Vought's hiring process disproportionately eliminated African American and Asian males, as well as all females, applying for the assembly trainee/aircraft assembly beginner jobs. OFCCP concluded that two steps in Vought's hiring process - an application screening and a test - were primarily responsible for the discrimination.

Under the terms of the consent decree, Vought will pay the 1,045 rejected applicants a total of $1,377,500 in back pay and interest. The company also will pay about $70,000 for applicants interested in participating in a four-week aircraft assembly training program, and from that program 35 applicants will be hired into assembly trainee/aircraft assembly beginner positions. Additionally, in lieu of retroactive seniority, the 35 new hires will be paid $1,500 each.

Vought, a manufacturer of aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, has discontinued its use of the test and modified its screening procedures, and will undertake extensive self-monitoring measurements for two years to ensure that all hiring practices fully comply with federal law. Additionally, the company will ensure compliance with recordkeeping requirements.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

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• Airlines and Airports
• Legal / Lawsuits > Civil
• Race Issues