10 Blacks File Discrimination Suit Against Shell Oil Co.

Ten African American marketing employees of Shell Oil Co.--including five working in Los Angeles--have sued the oil industry giant for racial discrimination, contending that the company’s voluntary affirmative action program has failed to promote blacks to higher management.

The three female members of the Los Angeles contingent are also suing the company for gender discrimination in the action, filed last month in U.S. District Court in San Francisco and expected to be served on the company today.

“Shell has failed to implement the kind of diversity management plan that has been successful and profitable for Xerox, Avon and other companies,” Ernie Beffel, lead attorney for the employees, said in a statement.

Shell spokeswoman Kitty Borah said the company was aware of the lawsuit, though it had not yet been served late Monday.

“We are confident that the facts will show that no system of discrimination against African Americans or any other minority groups exists in Shell,” Borah said. “I don’t have any more information.”

The employees--with experience ranging from one to 31 years--work in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Michigan and California.

“There are things [to do] in order to succeed at Shell,” said Alan Exelrod, a private San Francisco attorney also representing the plaintiffs. “You have to go to London, it’s important. No black has gone to London to be in the parent corporation for a period of time.” (Royal Dutch/Shell Group, the parent company, is headquartered in both London and The Hague.)

The plaintiffs had discussions with Shell Oil Co., the Houston-based U.S. subsidiary of Royal Dutch/Shell Group, before filing suit, “but nothing came of it,” Exelrod said.