Staff report
news@wbcowqel.com
A federal lawsuit against GE Lighting alleging hiring discrimination at the Bucyrus Lamp Plant has been settled. This follows an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.
That agreement calls for GE to pay more than $500,000 to cover back wages and interest to a total of 102 women who were not hired for entry level positions. At least five of those women will be offered jobs.
A press release from the company stated that GE Lighting is committed to diversity. The lawsuit stems from the women being rejected for positions in 2009 and centers on a selection test no longer used by the company.
GE Lighting has had $1.8 billion in federal contracts over the past two years and as a federal contractor GE is subject to federal guidelines prohibiting employment discrimination based on gender.