Race Discrimination Class Action Lawsuit

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.  During Fiscal Year 2008, the EEOC received 33,937 race discrimination charge filings, up 11% from the prior year.  The EEOC reports that race discrimination continues to be the most frequent allegation in annual charge filings with the EEOC nationwide.  Further information about the EEOC is available in the agency’s website at www.eeoc.gov .

On May 29, 2009, the EEOC issued a Press Release announcing that an Illinois construction company will pay $630,000.00 and provide significant remedial relief to settle a race discrimination class action lawsuit in which EEOC attorneys charged that the construction company fired a class of black employees because of their race and retaliated against an employee after it discovered he had filed a lawsuit against another employer for race discrimination.  See, http://www.eeoc.gov/press/5-29-09.html .  Acting EEOC Chairman Stuart Ishimaru was quoted in the Press Release as saying that “No group of employees should ever be targeted for layoffs based on race, and the EEOC will vigorously prosecute systemic race discrimination cases.” 

In Texas, the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (”TWCCRD”) enforces the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act; which has been codified into Texas Labor Code, Chapter 21.  According to the TWCCRD “Employment Discrimination Fact Sheets,” Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protect individuals against employment discrimination on the basis of race and color.  See, http://www.twc.state.tx.us/crd/facts.html .  In this regard, it is unlawful to discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant because of race or color.

Whether employment related race discrimination and retaliation for opposing workplace race discrimination occurs in Dallas, Houston, Port Arthur or elsewhere, victims of group race discrimination may contact the EEOC and, in Texas, the TWCCRD, as well as an attorney or lawyer to determine if a race discrimination and retaliation class action lawsuit may ultimately be appropriate under the particular circumstances and facts of the potential employment discrimination claim.