US Labor Department: Savannah River nuclear contractor discriminated against blacks, women

The contractor who manages the Savannah River nuclear site in South Carolina must pay more than $235,000 to some female and black employees after the U.S. Department of Labor found the workers were underpaid.

In a news release, the Labor Department said Savannah River Nuclear Solutions must pay $243,000 to 72 employees and review its labor policies.

The department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs said from 2009 to 2010, the company paid 57 women less than their male counterparts in some engineering, technical and administrative positions. Their audit also found that 15 black employees were paid less than their white counterparts in certain operation specialist jobs.

As a federal contractor, the management company is prohibited from discriminating in pay or other compensation on the basis of race or sex.