(Tribune News Service) — An arms manufacturer will pay $630,000 in back wages and interest after federal officials said the company discriminated against Black and female applicants in Mississippi.
Olin Corporation is a contractor for the Air Force and other federal agencies, the Department of Labor said in an Oct. 23 news release.
Federal officials said the company discriminated against 286 applicants for adjuster II positions at a facility in Oxford, Mississippi, over the course of two years.
Now, it’ll pay the $630,000 as part of a conciliation agreement the company reached with labor officials, the department said.
The company did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.
As part of the agreement, the company will extend job offers to 46 affected applicants as positions become available, and it will review its hiring policies to ensure they do not discriminate against any applicants, according to the Labor Department.
The company is accused of violating an executive order that prohibits federal contractors from “discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin”, according to federal officials. The applicants applied to positions from December 2017 to December 2019.
Olin Corporation, based in Clayton, Mo., is a leading small arms and ammunition producer that employs 8,000 employees in over 20 countries, according to the company’s website.
“Federal contractors must ensure there is no discrimination in their employment practices,” Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs southeast regional director Aida Collins said in the release.
Oxford is in northern Mississippi about 80 miles southeast of Memphis, Tenn.
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(Joseph Barron/U.S. Air Force)
