US Labor Dept. sues Goodyear for alleged gender bias in recruitment

Richmond, Virginia - The Richmond office of the US Department of Labor has filed suit against Goodyear, claiming the company discriminated against hundreds of women in its entry-level hiring at its Danville, Virginia tyre plant.

The alleged gender bias at Danville took place between January 1998 and June 1999, according to a compliance review conducted by the agency´s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. The Labor Department seeks a court order for Goodyear to hire the women in question, and to provide them with back pay, retroactive seniority and other employment benefits.

In a prepared statement, Goodyear denied the charges and said it is working actively with the agency to resolve the issue. The company will not comment further while the case is pending, it added.

The case is before the Office of Administrative Law Judges in Washington, and Goodyear has until July 3 to file its response. Executive Order 11246 makes it illegal for federal contractors to discriminate against workers and applicants because of gender, race, colour, creed or national origin.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)