EEOC Files Sex-Based Wage Discrimination Lawsuit against Amtrak

February 1, 2011

Philadelphia – The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claimed in a lawsuit Tuesday that Amtrak discriminated against a human resources regional director because of her sex, and then retaliated against her after she complained about it.

According to charges, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, or Amtrak, discriminated against Sheila Davidson, a human resources manager assigned to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, as early as 2001. Amtrak allegedly paid Davidson less compensation, and also discriminated her in terms of work assignments.

Davidson reportedly receives a salary equal to that of two male human resources regional directors despite having more relevant experience and a greater workload compared to other male workers in the same position. This conduct continued even after she became director of work force planning in 2006. Acts of retaliation against Davidson meanwhile included not letting her participate in senior staff meetings.

Amtrak, the country’s largest rail carrier, violated the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for discrimination in compensation based on sex and the Equal Pay Act of 1963 for retaliating against Davidson after she complained about the wage discrimination.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit after pre-litigation settlement through conciliation failed. The agency seeks injunctive relief prohibiting discriminatory practices based on sex and retaliation, lost wages, compensatory and punitive damages, and other affirmative relief for the victim.