MINNEAPOLIS – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with a federal defense contractor to resolve alleged discrimination against black applicants who applied for assembler positions between 2018 and 2019 at its Burnsville facility.
In a compliance review, the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs preliminarily found that — from Jan. 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 — Rosemount Aerospace Inc. discriminated against black applicants for assembler positions at the facility, which manufactures aircraft sensor equipment.
Rosemount has agreed to pay $712,500 in back wages and interest to the affected applicants. The company will also make employment offers to 26 identified class members.
Rosemount, which does business as Collins Aerospace, is a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies of Arlington, Virginia, and is a leading manufacturer of defense products.
“Federal contractors know that equal employment opportunity is non-negotiable when they accept taxpayer funds to fulfill their contract,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Regional Director Carmen Navarro in Chicago. “Our job is to make sure federal contractors meet their legal and contractual obligations, including providing opportunities for all qualified applicants regardless of race.”
OFCCP found Rosemount Aerospace’s actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.
“Working together with Rosemount Aerospace, OFCCP will make certain that the issues identified in this compliance evaluation are resolved and that the company puts procedures in place to safeguard the process for future applicants,” Navarro added.
Raytheon Technologies operates numerous U.S. manufacturing facilities.
OFCCP launched the Class Member Locator to identify applicants or workers who may be entitled to monetary relief and/or consideration for job placement as a result of OFCCP’s compliance evaluations and complaint investigations
