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EEOC sues AT&T for alleged age discrimination

AT&T Inc. was sued by a U.S. agency for allegedly discriminating against older workers through its policy of refusing to re-hire employees who retire from the company.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces anti-bias laws, filed the lawsuit yesterday in federal court in Manhattan. The EEOC says AT&T, the biggest U.S. telephone company, is discriminating against a nationwide class of ex- employees who quit under two retirement and severance programs, many of whom were over 40.

AT&T has operations in Hoffman Estates.

"AT&T has refused and continues to refuse to rehire other employees who retired from AT&T under various retirement and severance programs," according to the complaint, brought on behalf of John Yates and others like him. The EEOC says that AT&T refused to rehire Yates, 57, "because of his age."

The suit seeks an order blocking Dallas-based AT&T from continuing its policy, which was instituted in 2006, and for back wages for former employees who were harmed by it.

AT&T "makes diversity and inclusion a top priority" and discrimination "is not tolerated," spokesman Marty Richter said in a statement. He declined to comment further on the lawsuit.

The case is EEOC v. AT&T, 09-cv-7323, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan.)

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