Discrimination in the workplace on the rise

[ck4829]

Federal job discrimination complaints filed by workers against private employers rose in 2006 for the first time in four years.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Thursday that complaints increased to 75,768 during the 2006 budget year from 75,428 the previous year.

Charges of discrimination had spiked in 2002 at 84,442, a seven-year high. Complaints gradually drifted down after that until last year.

As in past years, allegations of discrimination based on race, sex or retaliation were the most frequent complaints, according to the commission, which enforces federal anti-discrimination laws among private employers.

Some statistics:

Allegations of race discrimination, with 27,238 charges, accounted for 35.9 percent of all filings last year.

Sex discrimination accounted for 23,247 complaints, or 30.7 percent of all filings last year. Charges based on retaliation rose to 22,555, or 29.8 percent of all complaints.

Discrimination complaints based on disability rose to 15,625, or 20.6 percent of all filings. Age discrimination came to 13,569 or 17.9 percent of all complaints filed in 2006. National origin complaints came to 8,327, or 11 percent of the total.

Religious discrimination complaints totaled 2,541, or 3.4 percent of all filings. Equal pay complaints were 663, or 0.9 percent of all filings.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070201/ap_on_go_co/job_discrimination

[ikojo]

1. Surprised? The percentage of private sector workers

in a union is at a historical low. As the power of unions declines the oppression of workers increases.

[lonestarnot]

2. Static ratio.

[Solo_in_MD]

3. Do you have any evidence that union actuall reduce discrimination or

discrimination complaints in the workplace?

I have heard complaints that the seniority preference systems used in most unions is inherently anti-woman since women take time off for child bearing and often enter the workforce later in life. The basic thrust was senority systems support the patriarchy.

[seabeyond]

4. from my view discrimination across board up per bushco politics for 6 yrs

pitting them against us. liberals vs repub, white against all, male against women, christian right vs all others....

i have seen the people around me that may have been bigots that kept mouth shut, now embracing their bigotry and stating their RIGHT to be a bigot.

[area51]

5. "Discrimination in the workplace on the rise"

Not surprising in an economy as bad as this; with so many unemployed & underemployed people, and so few jobs, it's easy pickings for employers, & they're well aware of this. Many employers no longer offer full-time employment, or medical bennies; they know they don't have to bother with "luxuries" like that.

[Rosemary2205]

6. Try being a black female with some grey hair looking for a job.

Throw in a wheelchair and no college degree. If I can find a job anyone can. I'm not saying it will be their dream job or will pay what they want, but if I can find a job anyone can.