US company sues two automakers, alleging discrimination and harassment

By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) – The U.S. Equal Employment Alternative (SO:FTCE11B) Fee on Friday sued two massive automakers, accusing Common Motors (NYSE:GM) and the United Auto Staff of age discrimination and the Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) unit that features Chrysler of subjecting feminine workers to sexual harassment.

GM and the UAW have been accused of getting since October 2019 maintained a sickness-and-accident advantages coverage below their collective bargaining settlement that reduces payouts to older workers who obtain Social Safety advantages.

The EEOC stated the coverage, overlaying not less than 50 GM services nationwide, discriminates towards workers ages 66 and older, violating the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

Stellantis’ FCA US unit, in the meantime, was accused of getting since December 2020 tolerated pervasive sexual harassment of feminine workers at a Detroit meeting plant, and routinely ignored their complaints about male supervisors and associates, a few of whom have been positioned in management roles.

The EEOC stated the alleged harassment included inappropriate touching and sexually charged feedback, and along with FCA’s failure to self-discipline male harassers created a hostile work surroundings that violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

GM had no fast remark, having but to assessment its criticism. FCA and the UAW didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark about their respective instances.

The GM and UAW lawsuit seeks to recoup advantages that employees ages 66 and older deserved however by no means acquired, whereas the FCA lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for feminine workers on the Detroit plant.

Each lawsuits additionally search everlasting injunctions towards additional wrongful conduct.

GM and the UAW have been sued within the federal court docket in New Albany, Indiana, whereas FCA was sued in Detroit federal court docket.

The lawsuits are a part of a string of enforcement actions by a number of federal businesses within the ultimate days of the Biden administration.

It’s unclear how EEOC enforcement priorities will change after President-elect Donald Trump enters the White Home.