Southern Ill. coal company sued for discrimination

MARION — A southern Illinois coal-mining interest is facing a federal lawsuit accusing it of sex discrimination by allegedly not hiring any women since it began operations five years ago.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Marion-based Mach Mining LLC on Tuesday in Benton.

The lawsuit alleges that many qualified women applied for work at Mach, but none were hired at the mining operation the commission says has a workforce of more than 130 men.

The lawsuit alleges the company is violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The supervisor of the EEOC’s Chicago district office says that while the number of women in mining remains far lower than their numbers in the general population, they had a right to be considered on qualifications and merits.

Mach declined comment Tuesday.