The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a lawsuit Friday against the Mississippi state Senate for discriminating against a former Black staffer.
The woman, a former staff attorney in the state’s Legislative Services Office, was paid about half of what her white counterparts were paid.
The Justice Department’s claim argues the state Senate violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in compensation, among other things.
“Discriminatory employment practices, like paying a Black employee less than their white colleagues for the same work, are not only unfair, they are unlawful,” said Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
“This lawsuit makes clear that race-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated in our economy. Our work to eliminate race-based pay disparities is about promoting compliance with the law and promoting equity and fairness for all workers.”
When Kristie Metcalfe was hired by the Mississippi state Senate in 2011, she was the first Black person to be hired in 34 years.
But according to the DOJ’s complaint, Metcalfe was offered a starting salary of $55,000 — significantly less than white hires and the lowest starting salary in 15 years.
According to the lawsuit, Metcalfe’s starting salary was 60 percent of what the next closest white attorney’s salary was. The highest salary was more than $121,000.
The lawsuit argues Metcalfe was paid less even though she was being hired to do “substantially the same as that of her white colleagues.”
In January 2012, Metcalfe’s colleagues were given a raise, but she was not.
Another employee with no previous experience was hired for the same position Metcalfe currently worked and was offered a starting salary of $101,500.
When Metcalfe complained and demanded a raise, the Senate denied her request. She resigned shortly thereafter.
The DOJ is seeking back pay and compensatory damages for Metcalfe, as well as injunctive and other appropriate relief.
