LONGVIEW — Cowlitz County has agreed to pay a road crew worker $185,000 to settle her claims of gender discrimination.
The Daily News of Longview reported that Barbara A. Wilson sued the county in federal court in Tacoma in July 2012, saying the public works department passed her over for promotion at least four times because she is a woman.
Wilson, who joined the department as an accountant clerk in 1985, claimed that men with less experience and seniority were promoted to road crew foreman. Wilson said in her suit that there are three women and 55 men in the road department, and that there has never been a female road crew foreman.
Wilson’s attorney, Thane Tienson, of Portland, Ore., said his client is still employed as a road crewmember. She was awarded a one-time payment of $185,000 in the settlement, and the county did not admit fault.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.