downtoearth-subscribe

In court

discrimination: On May 29, the US Supreme Court ruled that under a federal job-bias law, workers can't sue to claim they are underpaid because of gender or race discrimination that occurred many years ago. The court rejected a US $360,000-award to Lilly Ledbetter, who worked in Alabama Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. She claimed that two decades of discrimination had made her salary 15 per cent to 40 per cent lower than what her male counterparts earned. The US Civil Rights Act, 1964, gives workers 180 days from the time of the alleged discrimination to file a complaint. The court rejected Ledbetter's claim since it wasn't filed within the 180-days time frame.

asbestos waste: The Swindon Magistrates' Court of Wiltshire county has fined Hills Minerals And Waste, a UK waste disposal firm, around US $30,000 for not treating asbestos waste properly. The firm had breached its pollution control and prevention permit at its Chapel Farm site in Swindon in July-August 2005. After it was caught breaking the norms twice, it was taken to the court by the government's Environment Agency.

Related Content