By Godson Umejiego, Senior Correspondent USA
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) continues to search for possible claimants in the federal agency’s settlement of its race discrimination lawsuit against San Jose, California-based packaged foods producer Marquez Brothers, the agency has announced. The deadline for filing a claim – May 1 – is fast approaching.
On Sept. 17, 2019, a federal court approved the settlement against defendants Marquez Brothers International, Inc., Marquez Brothers Enterprises, Inc., Marquez Brothers Foods, Inc., Marquez Brothers Southern California, Inc., Marquez Brothers Nevada, Inc., and Marquez Brothers Texas I, Inc. In the lawsuit, the EEOC charged that Marquez Brothers violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by engaging in unlawful employment practices in recruiting and hiring on the basis of race.
The resolution provides for a total of US$2 million in monetary payments to a class of eligible job applicants who applied for or expressed interest in entry-level, hourly positions at Marquez Brothers and were discouraged from applying or not selected for a position. The EEOC is currently seeking Black, White, Asian, bi-racial or multi-racial applicants who sought employment with Marquez Brothers during the claims period of Jan. 1, 2010 through Sept. 17, 2019. These individuals may be eligible to receive a monetary award under the settlement.
EEOC says: “If you were discouraged from applying or not hired for an entry-level, hourly labor position at a Marquez Brothers manufacturing or distribution facility in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Nevada or Texas during the claims period, you may be entitled to receive a monetary award.
Visit www.EEOCMarquezLawsuit.com for more information and to complete a claim form. If you wish to complete a claim form, please do so by no later than May 1, 2022. The EEOC will use this information to determine your eligibility to receive a settlement award along with the amount of that award. Monetary awards will be distributed as soon as possible, between August 2020 and September 2022. The EEOC has sole discretion to determine your eligibility for a settlement award, the amount of any such award, and the timing of the award.
The EEOC keeps none of the settlement money.
Questions regarding making a claim and/or filling out the claims form should be directed to the EEOC at 1-213-785-3095, Option 7. Please do not contact the court or Marquez Brothers concerning the claims process.”
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.
