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Press Release 09-30-2009

NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY SUED BY EEOC FOR SEX DISCRIMINATION

Railway Failed to Promote Woman to Yardmaster Position, Federal Agency Charges

     

BALTIMORE  – One of the nation’s premier transportation companies engaged in unlawful sex  discrimination when it refused to provide a female employee with training  necessary to obtain a pro­motion to a yardmaster position, the Equal Employment  Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it announced today.

     

The  railroad removed Kathryn Class from yardmaster training and replaced her with a  less qualified male employee, the EEOC said in its lawsuit against Norfolk  Southern Railway Company (Civil Action No. 1:09-cv-02566-RDB), filed in U.S.  District Court for the District of Maryland.  The company claims it removed her from the training class based on its  policy prohibiting individuals from directly or indirectly supervising, or  being supervised by, a relative. The  EEOC charged this reason was but a ruse for sex discrimination because, despite  this policy, the railroad has employed male employees who were supervised by a  relative, or who supervised a relative.

     

Title  VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964prohibits discrimination in training and  promotions based on sex. The EEOC  attempted to reach a voluntary settlement before filing its lawsuit. The EEOC seeks injunctive relief, including  policies, procedures and training to prevent future workplace discrimination. The EEOC also seeks to have the company  compensate Class for her monetary losses and emotional pain and humiliation.
 
  “Everyone  deserves the freedom to compete in the workplace on a fair and level playing  field, without discriminatory barriers to advancement,” said EEOC Acting  Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence. “Title  VII protects women as they attempt to move into traditionally male-dominated  occupations.”

     

In Fiscal  Year 2008, sex-based filings with the EEOC jumped to 28,372, an increase of 14%  from the prior fiscal year.

     

According  to Norfolk Southern Corporation’s web site, www.nscorp.com, its subsidiary  Norfolk Southern Railway Company operates approximately 21,000 route miles in  22 states and the District of    Columbia.  Norfolk Southern is North America’s largest rail carrier of metals and  automotive products.

     

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment  discrimination. Further information  about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.