US settles anti-bias suit with Ford for $23 million

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission settled its seven-year antidiscrimination suit against the Ford Motor Company for $23 million. Under terms of the agreement, Ford must pay cash damages totaling $13 million to 14, 000 people who were refused jobs with Ford or who failed to win promotions. Ford will spend the balance in training programs to help its minorities and women employees advance to better jobs.The suit, begun in 1973, charged that Ford discriminated against minorities and women in hiring and advancement programs.