SPRINGDALE — Tyson Foods Inc. agreed to pay $ 1. 5 million to settle claims of job discrimination against women and members of minority groups at operations in Arkansas and Oklahoma, the U. S. Labor Department said Wednesday.
The allegations by the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs concerned Tyson’s hiring practices at four chicken plants in Van Buren, Berryville, Clarksville and Grannis; one chicken plant in Broken Bow, Okla.; and a Springdale trucking terminal.
Springdale-based Tyson agreed to pay the settlement to more than 2, 500 women and minority-group members not hired from 2002 to 2004. The company also agreed to hire 476 people involved in the settlement.
Tyson denies the discrimination claim but said it lacks documentation to show its hiring process. Tyson, the world’s largest meat company, has operations in beef, pork and chicken across the globe and said it now retains all relevant applicant records.
Tyson employs 114, 000 worldwide — almost 24, 000 in Arkansas — in its meat plants.
“We have a history of working cooperatively with the OFCCP and remain committed to treating all job applicants fairly,” said Ken Kimbro, senior vice president of Human Resources for Tyson Foods. The Labor Department said that Tyson discriminated against 1, 354 female applicants for entry-level positions at chicken plants in Van Buren, Clarksville and Berryville. The agency also said that Tyson discriminated against 998 minority-group applicants at its Grannis and Broken Bow chicken plants, and 225 such applicants for long-haul driver positions at the company’s Springdale trucking terminal. “This settlement of $ 1. 5 million in back pay for 2500 minorities and women should be a wake-up call to all federal contractors,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Failure to comply with workplace discrimination laws could be a very expensive mistake.” Tyson shares fell 13 cents to close Wednesday at $ 16. 49 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
To contact this reporter: [email protected] com
The allegations by the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs concerned Tyson’s hiring practices at four chicken plants in Van Buren, Berryville, Clarksville and Grannis; one chicken plant in Broken Bow, Okla.; and a Springdale trucking terminal.
Springdale-based Tyson agreed to pay the settlement to more than 2, 500 women and minority-group members not hired from 2002 to 2004. The company also agreed to hire 476 people involved in the settlement.
Tyson denies the discrimination claim but said it lacks documentation to show its hiring process. Tyson, the world’s largest meat company, has operations in beef, pork and chicken across the globe and said it now retains all relevant applicant records.
Tyson employs 114, 000 worldwide — almost 24, 000 in Arkansas — in its meat plants.
“We have a history of working cooperatively with the OFCCP and remain committed to treating all job applicants fairly,” said Ken Kimbro, senior vice president of Human Resources for Tyson Foods. The Labor Department said that Tyson discriminated against 1, 354 female applicants for entry-level positions at chicken plants in Van Buren, Clarksville and Berryville. The agency also said that Tyson discriminated against 998 minority-group applicants at its Grannis and Broken Bow chicken plants, and 225 such applicants for long-haul driver positions at the company’s Springdale trucking terminal. “This settlement of $ 1. 5 million in back pay for 2500 minorities and women should be a wake-up call to all federal contractors,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Failure to comply with workplace discrimination laws could be a very expensive mistake.” Tyson shares fell 13 cents to close Wednesday at $ 16. 49 in trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
To contact this reporter: [email protected] com