Lucky Stores Plans Training Program After Sex Bias Case

Lucky Stores Inc. said Friday that it agreed to institute new training programs and promotion policies after being found guilty of sex discrimination.

Under the consent decree filed in federal court, Lucky Stores will provide an entry-level management training program and allow employees to bid for promotions to management positions.

It also set goals for increasing representation of women in store management positions.

A U.S. District judge in San Francisco in August found Lucky Stores, a unit of American Stores Co., guilty of sex discrimination in its Northern California division, which operates 188 stores.

Also Friday, Lucky Stores said in the damage phase of the trial, set to begin Sept. 14, it will present evidence that back pay award claims should be between $3 million and $6 million.

The San Francisco Chronicle Friday reported that the plaintiffs will seek damages of $155 million.

American Stores has set aside reserves it believed would be adequate to cover possible damage awards, a spokeswoman said.

Lucky said about 20,000 women were employed in its Northern California division during the period covered by the lawsuit, but it said only those whom the court deems victims of discrimination are eligible to file back pay claims.