The Western Sugar Cooperative agreed to pay $550,000 to female employees who filed sex discrimination charges against the four-state sugar beet co-op, which operates a manufacturing facility in Fort Morgan.
An investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that Western Sugar denied women training, promotions and year-round employment as well as paying lower wages to women at the Fort Morgan facility.
Western Sugar denied the allegations and any wrongdoing but agreed to abide by the EEOC’s conciliation process to avoid litigation.
The women – led by employee Lorelie Kilker – and the company agreed on a settlement: to pay the women $550,000 and provide training for all employees as well as outreach to women’s organizations in the communities where it operates. The company will also train managers in EEO compliance and appoint an internal representative to monitor the co-op’s promotion and employment practices.
Rayford Irvin, director of the EEOC’s Phoenix District Office, which has jurisdiction over the state of Colorado, said: “Western Sugar is to be commended for its proactive response to the investigation and its willingness to ensure that its female employees are provided equal opportunity in the workplace. These excellent results were achieved through a cooperative process without having to resort to litigation.”
Nancy A. Sienko, director of the Denver Field Office, said: “We are pleased with the initiatives that Western Sugar has taken to ensure that female employees receive fair treatment and have the opportunity to advance within the company.”
