Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Deal Weighed

In an October 23, 2009 posting at http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=11370793 , WCAX.com states that a federal judge is weighing a $21.4 million offer by Eastman Kodak to settle two lawsuits by black employees who maintain they were paid and promoted less than white counterparts.  According to the Associated Press news article, the Rochester, New York based photography products company proposed this summer paying more than 3,000 current and past workers settlement amounts ranging from $1,000 to $75,000.00.  If approved, the deal would end a 2004 class action lawsuit and a similar lawsuit filed by other black workers in 2007.  As stated in the posting, the company was accused of paying black employees less than white co-workers, passing them over for promotions and maintaining a racially hostile work environment.