Class-action status awarded in 3M Age Discrimination Suit

Maplewood, MNOn Tuesday April 15, 2008, a lawsuit against 3M for age discrimination was awarded class-action status in a case that could affect approximately 6,000 employees over the age of 45. The suit was filed by five plaintiffs 3 ½ years ago that alleged the 3M CEO, Jim McNerney, showed favoritism toward younger workers by implementing termination policies that harmed older workers, affected pay, hampered the ability to receive a promotion, and denied training. As a result, older workers were out of work and the Minnesota Human Rights Act was violated.

3M has denied these allegations and feels that the ruling on Tuesday was rather insignificant. Spokeswoman Donna Fleming Runyon has said that the company will continue to defend itself.

The request for class-action status was challenged by 3M attorneys during a hearing that was conducted in December. It was argued that the plaintiffs did not account for the ages of the ages of the company's executive management team. The attorneys stated that 3M is primarily represented by older employees and feels that these age calculations disprove the point made by the plaintiffs. It was also argued that it isn't nearly 6,000 employees affected by the suit, but more like 200 or 300.

However being awarded class-action status, this means that any former and current employees can join the lawsuit, which means the number of plaintiffs in the suit could grow. A spokesman for the plaintiffs' attorneys says that December's case was a procedural thing that was necessary for the case to move forward. From here, the case will be moving to a trial or to a settlement.

The current and former employees who have complained say that the entire culture changed when McNerney took over. However, McNerney left the company in 2005 to take a position as the head of Boeing. But although he is gone, the current workers are saying that they are still left out of the mix as far as job and training opportunities go.

The lawsuit is seeking damages in the millions and an order from the court that 3M must change its business practices. The punitive damages that are being sought are up to three times the economic losses the class members may have suffered.

By: Ginger Gillenwater