US: Wal-Mart civil rights case to go to court

A News item from Business Respect, Issue Number 107, dated 6 Feb 2007

Wal-Mart is to face a class action lawsuit that will be the largest civil rights action against a US firm - claiming that the company has exercised pay discrimination against over a million female employees.

The federal appeals court, by upholding an earlier ruling granting the action class action status, has created a suit that may benefit 1.5 million current or former staff, potentially costing the company billions of dollars.

Wal-Mart denies discrimination, and has announced that it intends to appeal the verdict. The company said that the action should not achieve class action status because its 3,400 stores operate as inidividual businesses, with pay and promotion set locally.

Send this article to a friend

Bookmark with:

 Del.icio.us |  Digg |  reddit |  Facebook |  StumbleUpon

Related stories

What Wal-Mart's Sustainability Index is ... and isn't
- 21 Jul 2009
US: Top businesses join ethics initiative
- 10 Dec 2008
US: Wal-Mart names Mike Duke new CEO
- 21 Nov 2008
China: Wal-Mart introduces new supplier standards
- 23 Oct 2008
Wal-Mart to boycott cotton from Uzbekistan
- 1 Oct 2008
Mexico: Wal-Mart de Mexico payment in store coupons unconstitutional
- 9 Sep 2008
Canada: Wal-Mart has union contract imposed
- 17 Aug 2008
China: Wal-Mart reaches deal with unions
- 24 Jul 2008
Wal-Mart joins programme to eliminate illegal logging
- 15 Jul 2008
UK: Tobacco price fixing fines for six firms
- 11 Jul 2008
UK: Retailers in tobacco price probe
- 25 Apr 2008
UK: Asda-Walmart opposes extension of new code of conduct to overseas suppliers
- 7 Apr 2008
Wal-Mart aims for emission reductions from Chinese suppliers
- 14 Mar 2008
Wal-Mart and Toys 'R' Us release safety measures on imported toys
- 16 Feb 2008
Crying over spilt milk
- 9 Dec 2007
Wal-Mart pledges more environmental measures
- 28 Sep 2007
Wal-Mart critics leave to join political campaign
- 7 Jul 2007
US: Wal-Mart backs down over in-house bank
- 16 Mar 2007
India: Wal-Mart sees protests against planned presence
- 22 Feb 2007
Wal-Mart ordered to pay $78m to workers
- 13 Oct 2006
UK: Greenpeace gives rare praise to supermarkets on fish
- 6 Oct 2006
Wal-Mart pestered over marketing to children
- 5 Oct 2006
Wal-Mart introduces sustainable fishing label
- 7 Sep 2006
Wal-Mart takes the fight to its critics
- 17 Aug 2006
China: Wal-Mart agrees to unions at all its stores
- 11 Aug 2006
The green machine
- 31 Jul 2006
China: Wal-Mart gets its first labour union
- 30 Jul 2006
Norway: $200bn pension fund eschews Wal-Mart and Freeport
- 7 Jun 2006
The big supermarkets - now competing on price, quality ... and trust
- 21 May 2006
Wal-Mart pledges not to open bank branches
- 11 Apr 2006
Wal-Mart pledge on sustainable fish supplies
- 31 Jan 2006
Wal-Mart faces association that aims to organise workers
- 4 Nov 2005
Wal-Mart pledges major focus on the environment
- 25 Oct 2005
Wal-Mart gets praise for response to hurricane Katrina
- 6 Sep 2005
Wal-Mart urged by investors to improve its reputation
- 3 Jun 2005
Wal-Mart asked to disclose information on pay
- 13 May 2005
Wal-Mart settles illegal immigrant case for $11m
- 19 Mar 2005
US: Companies often illegally alter employee timesheets
- 4 Apr 2004
The Two Faces of Wal-Mart
- 28 Jan 2004
A return to sweatshop days?
- 14 Nov 2003
Wal-Mart faces action over allegations of hiring illegal workers
- 9 Nov 2003
Cleaner at Wal-Mart Tells of Few Breaks and Low Pay
- 25 Oct 2003
Wal-Mart - From folk hero to corporate monster
- 23 Mar 2003
Canada: Hudson's Bay and Wal-Mart 'sweatshop retailers' of the year
- 20 Dec 2002
Wal-Mart attacked for lack of diversity
- 28 Sep 2002
US: Wal-Mart target for Off-the-Clock suits
- 30 Jun 2002
Wal-Mart to air embarrassing TV ads highlighting its diversity
- 6 Oct 2001
Wal-Mart faces suit for underpayment of employees
- 11 Aug 2001
Wal-Mart hit by discrimination accusations
- 30 Jun 2001
Wal-Mart comes under fire
- 2 Jun 2001

Explore Business Respect news database