Clougherty Packing Co., a federal contractor and subsidiary of Hormel Food Corp., has settled allegations of systemic hiring discrimination against female job applicants following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Compliance officers reviewing Clougherty's hiring practices determined that, between 2007 and 2009, the company violated Executive Order 11246 by using a hiring process that discriminated against women — the majority of whom are Latinas — who applied for laborer positions at the company's meat-packing plant in Los Angeles. Under the terms of its conciliation agreement with OFCCP, Clougherty will pay $439,538 in back wages, including interest, to 1,988 qualified female job applicants rejected for these entry-level positions. Clougherty also will make 700 job offers to affected women as positions become available. Furthermore, the company has agreed to undertake extensive self-monitoring measures to ensure that all of its hiring practices fully comply with the law.

Women who applied and were rejected for laborer positions at Clougherty's Los Angeles facility between Feb. 10, 2007, and Feb. 9, 2009, may be eligible for the back wages, interest and job opportunities in this settlement. The company has committed to contacting all class members to explain their eligibility for these remedies. However, anyone who does not receive such a notice and believes the omission is in error can contact OFCCP's toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 (TTY: 877-889-5627) for more information.

Clougherty Packing Co. sells more than 400 million pounds of pork per year, including products sold under the Farmer John label and "Dodger Dogs," which are served at the Los Angeles Dodgers' baseball stadium. The company currently holds a federal contract of $3.9 million with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which distributes Clougherty products to food banks and other assistance programs. Family-owned for generations, Clougherty Packing was sold in 2004 to Austin, Texas-based Hormel.