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TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AGREES TO

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will implement new procedures for recruitment and selection of employees under an agreement reached today with the Justice Department. The agreement is intended to increase the number of qualified female applicants for highway maintenance (HMWI) and transportation assistant (TAI) jobs.

The agreement resolves allegations that TDOT's recruitment and selection procedures excluded women from these entry level positions in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin or religious beliefs. TDOT denies discriminating but has been working cooperatively with the Department to resolve concerns about the under-representation of women, and to build on TDOT's existing efforts to improve recruitment and selection practices for the HMWI and TAI positions.

Under today's agreement, TDOT will

• adopt recruitment procedures designed to attract qualified female applicants for the positions of HMWI and TAI;

• adopt specific application and selection procedures designed to ensure that the overall application and selection process for the HMWI and TAI jobs is fair, open and competitive;

• ensure that no unlawful discrimination occurs, on the basis of gender, in the work required to be performed by male and female HMWIs or TAIs;

• ensure that employees are regularly trained regarding equal employment opportunity and;

• comply with the provisions of Title VII.

"Today's action makes it clear that no discrimination of any kind will be tolerated by the Department of Justice," said Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Bill Lann Lee. "TDOT should be commended not only for its cooperation with the Department, but also for its desire to ensure equal employment opportunities regardless of gender."

The agreement must be approved by the United States District Court in Nashville.