Walmart Pledges Billions for Women Businesses

Colossal nationwide suit split into regional cases

(NEWSER) - Four months after the Supreme Court decided that 1.5 million past and present female workers at Walmart couldn't be lumped together in a single class-action suit , the first of what promises to be a flood of fresh lawsuits have begun. The original plaintiffs—who say they were denied pay rises and promotions because of gender bias—have filed class-action suits on behalf 95,000 of the retail giant's female employees in California, and on behalf of up to 45,000 workers in Texas. More»

More than 1M women don't have enough in common: justices

(NEWSER) - The Supreme Court has ruled for Wal-Mart in the biggest sex discrimination lawsuit ever, holding that the case cannot proceed as a class action. The court rejected a US appeals court decision that as many as 1.6 million women could take part in the suit, which could have ultimately cost the company billions in damages. The high court agreed with Wal-Mart's argument that the women, who hold various positions under different supervisors at some 3,400 stores, are too different to unite in one class action. More»

Court gives suit from up to 1M women class-action status

(NEWSER) - An appeals court left the world's biggest retailer facing the biggest class action lawsuit in American history after ruling yesterday against Wal-Mart. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decided that women who have worked at Wal-Mart stores since 2001 can sue the chain collectively over claims it paid them less than men and gave them fewer promotions, the Washington Post reports. More»

Republicans say Belizean Grove membership violates judicial code

(NEWSER) - Sonia Sotomayor has ended her membership in an exclusive women-only club following pressure from GOP lawmakers, Politico reports. Senators suggested the Supreme Court nominee's membership in the Belizean Grove—a 120-strong club of influential women that hosts annual Latin American retreats—violated codes of conduct banning judges from belonging to discriminatory organizations. More»

(NEWSER) - At long last, women hold more than 49% of American jobs in this country, and 50% is in reach. But hold the confetti, writes Ellen Goodman of the Boston Globe. It's happening "because men are losing their jobs even faster than women." Last year, men took home eight of every 10 pink slips, jacking their unemployment rate to 7.6%, compared to 6.2% for women. More»