Western Global Airlines has agreed to pay $84,727 in back wages and interest to resolve allegations of gender-based pay discrimination at its Estero facility. This settlement follows a routine compliance review by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which raised concerns about disparities in base pay and bonuses for female managers, support professionals, technicians, and administrators.
The OFCCP determined that Western Global Airlines' actions violated Executive Order 11246. This order prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
As part of the agreement with OFCCP, Western Global Airlines will pay 18 female workers $79,977 in back wages and interest along with $4,750 in bonuses. Additionally, the company will conduct an annual review of its compensation policies and practices and provide training to officials responsible for determining compensation. During the compliance evaluation process, Western Global Airlines also made $157,500 in pay equity adjustments for female employees.
Diana Sen, Acting Southeast Regional Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs said: "As a federal contractor, Western Global Airlines Inc. must ensure their employment practices are free of discrimination, provide all employees with equal employment opportunities and audit their processes to make sure no barriers to equal employment exist."
Since 2023, Western Global Airlines has received more than $4.5 million in federal contracts for providing scheduled freight air transportation services to the Department of Defense’s U.S. Transportation Command.
The OFCCP has also launched a Class Member Locator initiative aimed at identifying applicants or workers who may be entitled to monetary relief or job placement consideration as a result of its compliance evaluations and complaint investigations.
In addition to enforcing Executive Order 11246, OFCCP is responsible for enforcing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. These laws collectively prohibit employment discrimination.
