HOUSTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against the Houston Independent School District, accusing them of pay discrimination based on sex.
The commission alleges the district paid female senior Career & Technical Education (CTE) program specialists lower wages than male senior CTE program specialists for performing substantially equal work based on their sex.
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The lawsuit alleges this has been happening since February 2019.
The commission also alleged that HISD implemented a stringent interpretation of its compensation manual for female senior CTE program specialists that limited their ability to qualify for a higher starting salary based on their previous work experience. This resulted in male senior CTE program specialists being compensated at higher rates than their female colleagues who sometimes had just as much, if not more, related experience.
The commission alleges HISD’s conduct violates the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which prohibits discrimination in compensation based on sex.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston after the agency first attempted to reach a pre-litigation settlement through the conciliation process. The commission is seeking back pay, liquidated damages, the elimination of the pay disparities, and other injunctive relief to correct and prevent future pay discrimination.
“The EEOC is fully and absolutely committed to ensuring that gender is not factored into compensation and that employees receive equal pay for equal work,” said EEOC District Director Rayford Irvin.
Rudy Sustaita, the EEOC’s regional attorney in Houston, said, “Equal pay for equal work – it’s a simple premise and important legal obligation. The EEOC will hold employers accountable when they violate this obligation.”
N. Joseph Unruh, a trial attorney for the Houston District Office, added, “A person’s gender should not - and must not - be a factor in determining her pay.”
Houston ISD released a statement when asked about their response to the lawsuit.
“The Houston Independent School District cannot comment on a pending legal matter. The Superintendent and the School Board remain focused on the critical work of ensuring HISD prepares all its students for the world and workplace of Destination 2035 and allow the legal process to run its course. We will not answer any additional questions until the matter has concluded.”