EEOC Says California Company Committed Racial Discrimination

August 12, 2009

A California-based company has committed unlawful discrimination based on race by favoring white applicants over a black worker, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said on Wednesday.

The EEOC accused Silgan Containers Manufacturing Corp., a company which manufactures cans and containers, for discriminating a black worker at its Wisconsin plant.

The agency filed an employment lawsuit against the can manufacturer.

According to reports, the complainant applied as a general laborer in September 2006 at the Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and was given a physical exam. The worker waited five more months before getting hired.

While it took few months before the complainant was hired, several white applicants were immediately hired just few days or weeks after they have been physically examined.

Silgan Containers officials were not immediately available to give comments.