Wisconsin mailing processor will hire 23 job applicants in racial hiring discrimination settlement

United Mailing Services agrees to pay $120K in back wages to 251 applicants

MILWAUKEE — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has found that United Mailing Services denied jobs to 251 African Americans who completed job applications for entry-level mail processing jobs at its Brookfield, Wisconsin facility.

United Mailing Services required that an applicant meet several minimal expectations to be qualified. The company rejected African American applicants with criminal records, without proper driver's licenses, without adequate work availability, or with incomplete job applications.

In its investigation, OFCCP determined that United Mailing hired white applicants with criminal records, driver's licenses, limited work availability and incomplete applications similar to African Americans who applied for employment. This discriminatory selection process resulted in qualified African Americans being hired at a much lower rate than similarly qualified white applicants.

The OFCCP investigation also found that the hiring lapses occurred while United Mailing received more than $3.6 million in federal contracts to process mail for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The company did not admit to liability. Currently, United Mailing does not hold any federal contracts.

Under a conciliation agreement with OFCCP, United Mailing hired three class members and committed to hiring an additional 20 class members during the agreement's monitoring period. It will also pay $120,000 in back wages with interest to the 251 African American job applicants.

"Preventing workplace discrimination requires proactive steps," said OFCCP Director Patricia Shiu. "When contractors accept federal funds, they agree to take those steps to ensure that taxpayer money is never used to discriminate in hiring or employment."

OFCCP investigators determined during a scheduled compliance review that United Mailing's hiring process violated Executive Order 11246. The company also failed to collect and maintain required personnel and employment records and other selection documentation in violation of OFCCP's regulations.

In addition to Executive Order 11246, OFCCP enforces Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. As amended, these three laws require contractors and subcontractors that do business with the federal government not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. For more information, please call OFCCP's toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.