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About POGO's Federal Contractor Misconduct Database (FCMD)

The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

General Electric

Abney et al. v. General Electric (Racial Discrimination)

Date: 11/29/2010 (Date of Settlement – approx.)

Misconduct Type: Labor

Enforcement Agency: Non-Governmental

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: Civil

Amount: Undisclosed

Disposition: Settlement

Synopsis: General Electric agreed to settle a racial discrimination lawsuit brought by 62 African-American industrial laborers in Monroeville, Alabama. The plaintiffs alleged discrimination by Baghouse Associates, a company GE bought in 2004 (now doing business as BHA Group, Inc.). The plaintiffs worked for Lacy Enterprises, which supplied workers to Baghouse Associates (and later to GE) to change effluent filters at power plants and other heavy industrial facilities. The plaintiffs alleged that their GE supervisor subjected them to racial slurs and insults, denied them rest and bathroom breaks, and arbitrarily fired or suspended workers because of their race. According to media accounts, GE agreed to settle for approximately $3 million.