Long-running, well-trusted and 24-hour news channel CNN faces several class action lawsuits for alleged racial discrimination in the workplace. Complaints indicate that men and women of color working in the news channel were consistently given low work ratings on performance reviews. Colored employees claim that an "unfair and arbitrary promotions process" along with a "longer waiting time for promotions" have them at a disadvantage against their white counterparts.
According to Variety, African-American employee in CNN DeWayne Walker said that the company had passed him over for promotion nine times and still never achieved the promotion. His legal representative Daniel Meachum said that he "uncovered stories of abuse of power, nepotism, revenge, retaliation and discrimination. Others that he represents are former colored employees of the news channel.
The parties filed their lawsuit in the US District Court in Georgia against CNN and its parent companies Turner and Time Warner. Officially, their lawsuit states that African-Americans that make up more than a fraction of the news channel's workforce are underrepresented at higher pay grades and senior positions. It also mentions that they seek lost wages and other damages.
Last Wednesday, a nationwide job placement agency and several of its clients accused their employers saw a class-action lawsuit a group of African-American applicants filed because clear evidence indicated they favored Hispanic applicants. According to NYTimes.com, in another lawsuit filed in the US District Court, the colored applicants accused job placement agency MVP Staffing for using discriminatory practices including "code words" for job applicants of different races to satisfy clients who refuse to employ African-Americans for temporary positions.
Despite the employment issues, colored employment is on the rise. From an 8.6 percent unemployment rate, figures in October indicate a decrease to 8.1 percent. The rate is still double the white American low unemployment rate of 4.2 percent. Employment in general is also on the rise in the United States including rural employment.
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