Company settles race-discrimination suit

WASHINGTON PARK -- A southwestern Illinois packaging and warehousing company will pay more than $57,000 to settle a federal race-discrimination lawsuit involving a former worker.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced the settlement filed in East St. Louis against Material Resources LLC of Washington Park.

The lawsuit alleged that the company doing business as Gateway Co-Packing Co. didn't give the black employee the pay raise and health insurance coverage his white co-workers got. The EEOC says the company then fired the employee after he filed a complaint.

Material Resources will pay the ex-employee $7,500 in back pay and $50,000 in compensatory damages, as well as offer anti-discrimination training.

Calls to the company by The Associated Press seeking comment were repeatedly disconnected by the business' receptionist.