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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 693-4650
In the largest settlement the U.S. Department of Labor has
ever obtained for people with disabilities, American Airlines will pay nearly
$1.7 million to 99 people who were denied jobs in Nashville, Tenn., and
Detroit. The settlement terms were outlined in a consent decree finalized
today.
"This settlement is a victory for people with
disabilities," Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman said. "American Airlines has
agreed not to engage in discriminatory hiring practices and to monitor its
hiring. We have emphasized to every federal contractor that equal employment
opportunity and self-monitoring are simply the way to do business today."
The settlement is the result of separate compliance reviews
at the two facilities conducted by the Labor Department's Office of Federal
Contract Compliance Programs. The agency found that American Airlines
discriminated against job applicants with disabilities at both locations.
Some of the individuals applied for positions as ticket
agents and mechanics. Most were applicants for part-time fleet service clerk
positions at the Nashville airport facility. Fleet service clerks handle
baggage, clean aircraft and guide planes to and from airport gates.
American Airlines used a system of numerical medical
standards for screening certain of its applicants for employment and then used
those criteria to deny employment. The airline routinely disqualified
applicants who failed to meet its standards for a number of medical conditions,
including blood pressure, vision, hearing and asthma. American stated that it
had reasonable cause to deny employment to individuals not meeting its medical
standard in these cases because of safety concerns. However, OFCCP and its
medical experts who examined the affected individuals found that American's
concerns had no medical basis and that each of them could have safely performed
the jobs for which they had applied.
"This is a very important case because it once again sends
a clear message that discrimination in any form, against any individual, must
not be tolerated," said Bernard E. Anderson, assistant secretary for employment
standards.
The settlement includes $1,695,800 in back pay and interest
that will be divided among the applicants who were denied employment in
Nashville and Detroit. While admitting no wrong doing, American Airlines has
changed its pre-employment medical screening practices at both airport
facilities to bring them into compliance with the Rehabilitation Act and the
Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, OFCCP will review, for one year,
the cases of any applicant for jobs as fleet service clerks or ticket agents at
the company's Nashville facility who are rejected because of medical concerns.
The federal contract compliance office enforces Section 503
of the Rehabilitation Act and other laws that prohibit government contractors
from discriminating against employees and applicants on the basis of the
individual's disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin or
veterans status. The laws also require pro-active affirmative action to ensure
quality workplaces, free of discrimination.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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