Benefits November 8, 2006

Tyson Settles on Race Discrimination Case

November 8, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Tyson Foods, Inc. has reached a settlement with a group of current and former workers on charges of racial discrimination in its Ashland, Alabama poultry plant.
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According to a press release, under the settlement, Tyson will pay $871,000 to the thirteen plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Tyson also will designate a corporate human resources executive to ensure all Ashland team members are trained on the company’s anti-discrimination policies and procedures and to handle the company’s response to any discrimination or harassment complaints.

In August 2005 the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit that Tyson violated federal law by maintaining a locked bathroom facility on which “Whites Only” or “Out of Order” signs were posted and by only providing white employees with the necessary keys. The lawsuit also claimed that, when two black workers complained of the segregated facility, management subjected them to adverse employment actions, including suspensions and disciplinary write-ups (See EEOC Hits Tyson Foods with Racial Discrimination Charges ).

Tyson denied any wrongdoing. According to the release, the company has retrained all Ashland workers on its policies on discrimination and dignity and respect in the workplace, and has made changes in management staff at the plant.

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