WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday blocked a massive sex discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart on behalf of female employees in a decision that makes it harder to mount large-scale bias claims against the nation’s biggest companies.
The justices all agreed that the lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. could not proceed as a class action in its current form, reversing a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. By a 5-4 vote along ideological lines, the court said there were too many women in too many jobs at Wal-Mart to wrap into one lawsuit.
The lawsuit could have involved up to 1.6 million women, with Wal-Mart facing potentially billions of dollars in damages.
So did all of them agree or was there a 5-4 vote? It can’t be both. Basically the Supreme Court tacitly approved gender discrimination with a ‘too big to sue’ statement. It might hurt business. It might hurt Walmart.
Does that mean its ok to pay women differently? Should they not be promoted the same way men who work for Walmart are promoted? Should they not be paid the same salary for the same work or get raises on the same scale men do? What is Walmart afraid of?
Walmart and other businesses need to be sent a strong message that discrimination is unacceptable. I am not sure how to do it. Some of us won’t go into a Walmart. I also won’t go inside a local Home Depot because the male workers ignore women customers. That’s the only way I know to send a message that business practices are unacceptable. It is probably wise to sent an email to corporate to tell home office why you don’t shop at the local retail stores also.
The original complainants can still pursue their claim but they cannot move forward in a massive class action lawsuit.
