EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION: Houston-based Club Face Race Discrimination Charges filed by EEOC

June 30,2011

Houston, Texas – The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against Texas-based Michael’s International Club for alleged violation of federal law on race discrimination, a statement from the federal agency said.

According to the EEOC, the local club managers prevented African-American waitresses from working their scheduled shifts when a company official from Dallas visited the club.

The officials said the company’s Vice President did not like African-American waitresses and dancers in the club. The alleged incident started in September 2007 and continued further.

The agency also claimed that the club official also insulted and berated the black waitresses.In November 2007, the waitresses tried to speak with club officials to discuss their complaints of race discrimination but the meeting failed to change their working conditions. In fact, they were repeatedly prevented from working their shifts and many were force to resign.

When a pre-litigation settlement through conciliation process failed, the agency eventually filed charges of race discrimination against the company in US District Court for Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The federal agency is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the company from engaging in any further race discrimination.

The EEOC is also seeking back pay on behalf of  a group of former waitresses and compensatory  and punitive damages and other relief on their behalf.