11 Top Companies Hit With Employee Racial Discrimination Suits

Black workers have accused BMW, Comcast, UPS and more.

BMW - BMW has to pay up $1.6 million to settle a racial discrimation lawsuit filed in June 2013, AP reports. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission hit BMW with a lawsuit, claiming that one of its South Carolina facilities used a criminal background check policy that unfairly impacted African-Americans. Consequently, out of 645 experienced employees, 88 were denied rehire, including 70 Blacks, the commission revealed. Similar lawsuits against big-name companies focus national attention on the mistreatment that workers of color claim to face. Keep reading to find out about racial discrimination suits launched by employees at Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton and more. (Photo: Jens Schlueter/Getty Images)

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BMW - BMW has to pay up $1.6 million to settle a racial discrimation lawsuit filed in June 2013, AP reports. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission hit BMW with a lawsuit, claiming that one of its South Carolina facilities used a criminal background check policy that unfairly impacted African-Americans. Consequently, out of 645 experienced employees, 88 were denied rehire, including 70 Blacks, the commission revealed. Similar lawsuits against big-name companies focus national attention on the mistreatment that workers of color claim to face. Keep reading to find out about racial discrimination suits launched by employees at Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton and more. (Photo: Jens Schlueter/Getty Images)

Louis Vuitton - Louis Vuitton is being sued by London sales associate Oliver Koffi. Koffi claims that during a discussion with his manager and some other employees in December of 2013, his manager said "Black people are slaves and eat dirt off the floor.”  (Photo: eter Kramer/Getty Images)

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Louis Vuitton - Louis Vuitton is being sued by London sales associate Oliver Koffi. Koffi claims that during a discussion with his manager and some other employees in December of 2013, his manager said "Black people are slaves and eat dirt off the floor.”  (Photo: eter Kramer/Getty Images)

Secure Free Shipping - FreeShipping.org is full of promo codes that will get your new outfit to your door gratis.   (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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United Parcel Service - Eight United Parcel Service employees are suing the company for racial discrimination, poor treatment based on race and retaliation after they complained. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Tiffany & Co. - A recent lawsuit launched by Michael McClure, a group director at Tiffany & Co., has accused the jewelry retailer of a “systemic, nationwide pattern and practice of racial discrimination.” McClure pointed to the fact that he is the only African-American among more than 200 management positions, and also cited other incidents.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.)

General Electric - In 2010, 57 Black General Electric workers filed a suit against the company for racial discrimination, saying a supervisor called them racial slurs, denied them bathroom and medical breaks and fired Blacks based on their race. An out-of-court settlement was reached. GE also faced additional racial discrimination suits in 2005, 2006 and 2008, all of which were settled for more than $14 million collectively.(Photo: Michael Nagle/Getty Images)

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General Electric - In 2010, 57 Black General Electric workers filed a suit against the company for racial discrimination, saying a supervisor called them racial slurs, denied them bathroom and medical breaks and fired Blacks based on their race. An out-of-court settlement was reached. GE also faced additional racial discrimination suits in 2005, 2006 and 2008, all of which were settled for more than $14 million collectively.(Photo: Michael Nagle/Getty Images)

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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has also come under fire for racial discrimination several dozen times since the 1990s. About 4,500 Black truck drivers, who had applied to work for Wal-Mart, sued the multi-national retail corporation for racial discrimination. The company settled for $17.5 million in 2009, but denied any wrongdoing.(Photo: Thomas Cooper/Getty Images)

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Abercrombie & Fitch - In a 2003 lawsuit that made headlines for clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, Black, Latino and Asian employees complained that they were placed in stock-room jobs and disregarded for sales floor positions because they did not look “classically American.” They also alleged they had been fired and replaced by white workers. The suit was settled for $40 million.(Photo: Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images)

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Abercrombie & Fitch - In a 2003 lawsuit that made headlines for clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, Black, Latino and Asian employees complained that they were placed in stock-room jobs and disregarded for sales floor positions because they did not look “classically American.” They also alleged they had been fired and replaced by white workers. The suit was settled for $40 million.(Photo: Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images)

Southern California Edison - In 2010, a group of 11 current and former Black employees hit utility juggernaut Southern California Edison with its third racial-discrimination class-action lawsuit. The suit blamed the company for a host of unfair and biased treatment, including consistently denying them promotions and not paying fairly. A 1994 suit resulted in a settlement for more than $11 million and required diversity training.(Photo: Southern California Edison)

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Southern California Edison - In 2010, a group of 11 current and former Black employees hit utility juggernaut Southern California Edison with its third racial-discrimination class-action lawsuit. The suit blamed the company for a host of unfair and biased treatment, including consistently denying them promotions and not paying fairly. A 1994 suit resulted in a settlement for more than $11 million and required diversity training.(Photo: Southern California Edison)

Coca-Cola Company - Class action lawsuits were filed against the multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer by current and former African-American workers in 1999. Coca-Cola denied the allegations, but agreed to a $192 million settlement, the largest settlement ever in a corporate racial-discrimination case. Nonetheless, a 2013 lawsuit called the company a "giant cesspool of discrimination.”(Photo: Doug Collier/AFP/Getty Images)

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Coca-Cola Company - Class action lawsuits were filed against the multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer by current and former African-American workers in 1999. Coca-Cola denied the allegations, but agreed to a $192 million settlement, the largest settlement ever in a corporate racial-discrimination case. Nonetheless, a 2013 lawsuit called the company a "giant cesspool of discrimination.”(Photo: Doug Collier/AFP/Getty Images)

Comcast - Comcast, the largest mass media and communications company in the world, is no stranger to racial discrimination lawsuits. This year, a former African-American employee slapped the company with a suit after being allegedly mistreated by a new supervisor because of his race. Suits were also filed in 2011, 2010 and 2004.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Comcast - Comcast, the largest mass media and communications company in the world, is no stranger to racial discrimination lawsuits. This year, a former African-American employee slapped the company with a suit after being allegedly mistreated by a new supervisor because of his race. Suits were also filed in 2011, 2010 and 2004.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Kaiser Permanente - Health care giant Kaiser Permanente has also had its fair share of racial discrimination lawsuits. One Fijian-Indian and 12 African-American former custodians of the company in Sacramento filed a suit in 2006, claiming they were terminated based on their race. In 2000, the parent company, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., settled another racial discrimination suit in Cleveland for $235,000.(Photo: Henry J Kaiser Foundation)

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Kaiser Permanente - Health care giant Kaiser Permanente has also had its fair share of racial discrimination lawsuits. One Fijian-Indian and 12 African-American former custodians of the company in Sacramento filed a suit in 2006, claiming they were terminated based on their race. In 2000, the parent company, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., settled another racial discrimination suit in Cleveland for $235,000.(Photo: Henry J Kaiser Foundation)