Claimants Seek to Share Award in Job Bias Suit

With the deadline less than two months away, claims are starting to trickle in for shares of a $26-million settlement in an employment discrimination suit that was hailed as a landmark decision for working women.

The $26 million was awarded in a suit filed in the 1970s by a Kern County waitress who quit her job when her hours were changed and she was unable to find child care.

Claiming that she had good cause to quit, she filed for unemployment benefits, which were denied. She appealed and the state Supreme Court ruled that the law used by the state to deny her unemployment benefits discriminated against women.

That law said a person could not receive unemployment benefits unless he or she was the sole or major financial support for the family.

The court also ruled that the waitress’ suit could cover anyone who was denied benefits under the same law between August, 1968, and December, 1976. Some male workers were affected by the law as well.

The deadline for applying for the benefits is Aug. 31. A spokeswoman for the Employment Development Department said that surprisingly few claims are coming in from Southern California.

“Considering how many people live in Southern California, we are surprised that so few claims are coming in from that area,” said Suzanne Schroeder. “The response is much better in Northern California.”

Applications for the benefits are available at any post office in California.

The average award is expected to be about $800.