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DHL, a leader in the logistics industry, settled a lawsuit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for $8.7 million. The lawsuit charged DHL with assigning Black employees to more dangerous routes than white employees. Black employees were also assigned much heavier dock work or moving heavier packages than white employees. Employees were segregated by race. Many Black workers were victims of crime on their routes and often witnessed crimes due to their assignments. Discrimination based on race violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Class action lawsuit pending for 14 years
The settlement, which was approved by a federal judge, ends the race discrimination class-action lawsuit filed by the EEOC in 2010. Interestingly, this discrimination lawsuit wasn’t about pay differentials, but unequal assignments. Workers were segregated by race, which the EEOC says is just as illegal as being paid less due to race.
The $8.7 million will be paid to compensate the 83 Black employees who participated in the lawsuit. DHL will also be subject to oversight by former EEOC Commissioner Leslie Silverman for a period of four years to prevent future discrimination. Silverman will review policies and complaint procedures, monitor work assignments, and provide training to management and employees of DHL concerning race discrimination. Â
EEOC committed to enforcing the Civil Rights Act
Sixty (60) years ago, Title VII outlawed racial segregation in the workplace. At DHL, white workers refused to work in certain parts of town because of concerns of safety. DHL then assigned Black workers to those communities, which said to those workers that their lives and safety were valued less than white workers. The EEOC contends that conduct is clearly unlawful.
Race-based job segregation should be a thing of the past. The EEOC is committed to enforcing the Civil Rights Act.
According to Reuters, a DHL spokesperson denied any wrongdoing under the lawsuit. The company takes claims of discrimination seriously.
