The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last week announced a $500,000 settlement in St. Louis of a class employment discrimination lawsuit against FedEx Freight East, on behalf of 20 qualified African-American employees who were denied promotions and assignments based on their race.
The EEOC alleged in the lawsuit that American Freightways, which was subsequently acquired by FedEx, discriminated against African Americans in making promotions from part-time to full-time dockworker positions, promotions to dock supervisor positions, and work assignments at its St. Louis terminal. Six African-American dockworkers filed charges with the EEOC, intervened in the lawsuit, actively participated in its prosecution, and joined in the settlement.
In addition to $500,000 in monetary relief, the consent decree resolving the litigation – pending approval by the U.S. District Court in St. Louis – also requires reporting by FedEx on promotions from part-time to full-time dockworker positions and to dock supervisor positions.