Amtrak Accused of Pay Discrimination

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit that beginning in 2001, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, also known as Amtrak, discriminated against Sheila Davidson in her compensation and work assignments because of her gender. The EEOC said Amtrak paid Davidson, a human resources manager assigned to the rail carrier’s 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, the same salary as it paid two male human resources regional directors, even though Davidson had more relevant experience and was assigned a far greater workload than her male counterparts.  

According to an EEOC press release, the pattern of sex discrimination against Davidson continues to have a negative effect on her compensation and benefits even after she was laterally transferred to the position of director of work force planning in 2006.  

The agency also charged that Amtrak violated Title VII and the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by unlawfully retaliating against Davidson because she complained about the wage discrimination and filed a charge with the EEOC. The retaliation includes barring Davidson from participating in senior staff meetings.  

The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief prohibiting discriminatory practices based on gender or retaliation, as well as lost wages and compensatory and punitive damages for Davidson and other affirmative relief.