Meat processor Swift and Co. has agreed to hire 141 women and pay $700,000 to nearly 2,500 of them to settle a complaint that it discriminated against women who applied for unskilled jobs at its meatpacking plant, according to the Associated Press

Food & Drink Weekly, Sept 26, 2005

Meat processor Swift and Co. has agreed to hire 141 women and pay $700,000 to nearly 2,500 of them to settle a complaint that it discriminated against women who applied for unskilled jobs at its meatpacking plant, according to the Associated Press. The Labor Department said a routine compliance evaluation and a subsequent in-depth review of Swift determined the company did not apply the same hiring criteria to men and women.

The $700,000 represents back pay, the department said. The annual pay and benefits of the 141 jobs totals $3.6 million, labor officials said. "This settlement does not constitute any admission of guilt for any violations," said company spokesman Sean McHugh. "Swift will continue to pursue its goal of attracting and hiring a diverse work force."