California Grape Grower Pays 1.68 Million to Settle Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
Written by barb howe Thursday, 04 December 2008 16:01
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that California grape grower Kovacevich 5 Farms has agreed to pay $1,680,000 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging that the company refused to hire women.
After investigating charges filed by six female job applicants turned away by the company, the EEOC found that the grower hired zero women between 1998 and 2002 despite filling approximately 300 seasonal farm work positions every year.
After investigating charges filed by six female job applicants turned away by the company, the EEOC found that the grower hired zero women between 1998 and 2002 despite filling approximately 300 seasonal farm work positions every year.
"We filed this lawsuit because everyone deserves the freedom to compete and advance in the workplace on a level playing field," said EEOC Regional Attorney William R. Tamayo. "We are pleased that Kovacevich 5 Farms will implement a process to ensure hiring based on qualifications, and not gender. This settlement allows these women to move on with their lives."
Discriminatory hiring based on gender is a violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. After first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement, on February 6, 2006, the EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Kovacevich 5 Farms, Civil Action No. 06-00165 OWW TAG) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, on behalf of a class of female farm workers denied employment at Kovacevich 5 Farms. The six women joined the EEOC's federal suit and alleged state law claims; they were represented by the Law Offices of Marcos Camacho of Bakersfield and R. Tomás Olmos of Allred, Maroko & Goldberg of Los Angeles. [Note: Marcos Camacho is a member of the Board of Directors of Farmworker Justice and is also General Counsel of the United Farm Workers. Congratulations Marcos!]
In a consent decree filed this week, Kovacevich 5 Farms denied any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $1,680,000 and furnish relief to prevent future discrimination. It will also post a notice about the lawsuit at its facility, set goals and timetables for the hiring of women for the next five years, train all supervisors and employees regarding federal equal employment laws, and distribute its anti-discrimination policy in both English and Spanish to all employees.
The settlement amount will be distributed to women who were turned away from applying to work at Kovacevich 5 Farms, or did not apply to work there because they knew that the employer only hired men. Women who wish to be considered should contact EEOC staffer Maricela Medina at (408) 291-7354 to determine if they qualify to share in the settlement.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.
Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.
In a consent decree filed this week, Kovacevich 5 Farms denied any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $1,680,000 and furnish relief to prevent future discrimination. It will also post a notice about the lawsuit at its facility, set goals and timetables for the hiring of women for the next five years, train all supervisors and employees regarding federal equal employment laws, and distribute its anti-discrimination policy in both English and Spanish to all employees.
The settlement amount will be distributed to women who were turned away from applying to work at Kovacevich 5 Farms, or did not apply to work there because they knew that the employer only hired men. Women who wish to be considered should contact EEOC staffer Maricela Medina at (408) 291-7354 to determine if they qualify to share in the settlement.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.
Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.
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