Boeing Discrimination Suit Granted Class-Action Status

Current and former African American employees of Boeing Co. have been granted class-action status in their lawsuit accusing the defense giant of discrimination and harassing black workers.

The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman, means about 15,000 African American salaried workers employed by the Chicago-based company from June 6, 1994, to the present can unite under one complaint to seek damages.

The suit, filed in 1998, doesn’t include executives and technicians represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace.

The Seattle law firm Hagens Berman said the plaintiffs were seeking back pay, punitive damages and an injunction ordering Boeing not to discriminate.

Boeing spokesman Ken Mercer said: “The certification decision is a procedural ruling and not based on the merits of the complaint. Boeing is confident it will prevail at trial on the issues.”

The judge ruled the certification doesn’t include workers at companies acquired by Boeing such as McDonnell Douglas Corp. and Rockwell International. Hagens Berman said it planned to file a separate complaint in Chicago against Boeing with similar allegations.

In March 1998, 41 current and former Boeing employees filed a complaint alleging discrimination and harassment at the company’s Auburn, Everett and Renton, Wash., facilities. The suit sought $82 million in damages.

Boeing agreed to settle the case in 1999 for $11 million without admitting any wrongdoing, but the appeals court rejected the deal after some plaintiffs raised objections about their attorney’s fees.

Shares of Boeing slipped 43 cents to $49.64 on the New York Stock Exchange.