Class action: 15,000 Black Employees Suing Boeing Airlines

Current and former African-American employees of Boeing Co. have been granted class-action status in their lawsuit accusing the defense giant of discrimination and harassing black workers. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman means about 15,000 African-American salaried workers employed by the Chicago-based company from June 6, 1994, to the present can unite under one complaint to seek damages. The lawsuit, filed in 1998, doesn't include executives and technicians represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace. Boeing spokesman Ken Mercer said the company "is confident it will prevail at trial on the issues." [more]