CLARKSBURG, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Clarksburg Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), which oversees an electrician apprenticeship program in North-Central West Virginia, has agreed to pay $150,000 and provide injunctive relief to resolve charges of sex discrimination filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced.
The EEOC investigation found that the Clarksburg Electrical JATC denied three female applicants admission to its apprenticeship and training program because they were female; used a panel interview and rank-order selection process that caused an unlawful disparate impact against a class of female applicants for the program, which resulted in denials because of their sex; and subjected a class of female applicants to a pattern or practice of denial of admission into the apprenticeship and training program because they were female. Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Following a reasonable cause finding during the investigation, the parties engaged in the pre-litigation conciliation process, which resulted in a settlement including monetary damages; hiring an expert to recommend changes to Clarksburg Electrical JATC’s selection process; and ensuring at least two female bargaining unit members sit on the interview panel responsible for selecting apprentices until the expert’s recommendations are adopted.
As part of the settlement, Clarksburg Electrical JATC also agreed to offer automatic instatement to the three complainants into the 2023-2024 apprenticeship class and provide the opportunity for a class of female applicants to re-interview for admission into the program.
“Clarksburg Electrical JATC offers a pathway to union membership and access to a good career in the Clarksburg area,” said EEOC Philadelphia District Director Jamie R. Williamson. “The EEOC commends the apprenticeship and training program for its openness to resolving these charges in a way that will give more qualified female candidates access to these opportunities.”
By agreeing to the settlement, Clarksburg Electrical JATC has not admitted to the findings of EEOC’s reasonable cause determination and denies liability for all claims.
