Tyson Foods Inc. Agrees To Pay $1.5 Million In Back Pay For Hiring Discrimination

 The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced today that Tyson Foods Inc., headquartered in Springdale, Ark., has entered into six consent decrees to settle findings of hiring discrimination. More than 2500 women and minorities will receive a total of $1.5 million in back pay.

"This settlement of $1.5 million in back pay for 2500 minorities and women should be a wakeup call to all federal contractors," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This administration is strongly committed to ensuring that all Americans are hired, promoted, and compensated fairly. Failure to comply with workplace discrimination laws could be a very expensive mistake."

The consent decrees, filed with the Labor Department's Office of Administrative Law Judges, were a result of separate compliance evaluations of six company facilities in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Periods under review ranged from 2002 through 2004, depending on the facility.

OFCCP issued findings that Tyson discriminated against 1354 rejected female applicants for entry-level laborer positions at three Tyson chicken processing plants in Van Buren, Clarksville and Berryville, Arkansas. The agency also found that Tyson discriminated against 998 rejected minority applicants for entry-level laborer positions at chicken processing plants in Grannis, Ark. and Broken Bow, Okla., and discriminated against 225 rejected minority applicants for long haul driver positions at Tyson's long haul terminal in Springdale, Ark. Read more at dol.gov