News Article

Ex-Labor Chief To Head Coke Diversity Panel

The Atlanta Journal - Constitution

Published: March 15, 2001

Former Labor Secretary Alexis Herman will head the independent task force created to monitor Coca-Cola's $192.5 million settlement of an employee racial discrimination lawsuit.

Herman, 53, who served in the Clinton administration, was jointly selected by Coke and the plaintiffs in the class-action case, both sides announced today.

"Alexis Herman is a true American heroine," said plaintiffs' attorney Cyrus Mehri. "She has had a lifelong commitment to these issues. "

Coke Chairman Doug Daft credited Herman with demonstrating "a thoughtful, effective approach to developing a competitive, productive American work force. "

The outside, seven-member task force is a key element of the settlement agreement affecting 2,000 current and former African-American employees. The pact still must be approved by U.S. District Judge Richard Story, and workers have until Monday to either accept it or opt out.

The task force will be responsible for reviewing company practices on pay, promotions and performance evaluations --- three issues named in the lawsuit --- as well as for recommending changes to improve diversity at Coke.

And the panel will have enforcement powers.

"Coca-Cola will implement task force recommendations unless the company seeks and obtains judicial relief," the agreement says. To obtain such relief, the company would have to prove that following a task force recommendation would constitute unsound business judgment or would be unfeasible technically or financially.

The other six members of the task force --- three selected by the company and three selected by the plaintiffs --- have not been announced.

For more information or the full story, contact Mehri & Skalet, PLLC.