EEOC Chairwoman Addresses NAACP, Urges Partnership to Further EEO Reforms for Federal Workers

WASHINGTON -- Ida L. Castro, Chairwoman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), stressed the importance of continuing to work in partnership with agency stakeholders to address employment discrimination issues in the federal workforce at the NAACP's Annual Convention on July 12 in New York City.

During a panel discussion on federal EEO issues, Ms. Castro reiterated her philosophy of opening the lines of communication and working constructively with stakeholders to pinpoint issues of concern. Chairwoman Castro explained that the President's fiscal year 2000 budget request for EEOC, if granted by Congress, would direct sorely needed additional funds to improve the effectiveness of federal government EEO operations.

"I am committed to working closely with the NAACP and other civil rights advocacy groups to reform and build trust in the federal sector EEO process," Chairwoman Castro said. "Federal workers have too often faced inconvenience, frustration, and delay in filing and processing discrimination complaints due to inefficiencies in the system."

Her comments coincided with the Commission's Monday, July 12, issuance of new regulations (29 C.F.R. Part 1614) streamlining the EEO complaint process. The changes improve the process for federal employees and applicants by curbing multiple layers of review, focusing on perceptions of impartiality in the system, and utilizing alternative dispute resolution throughout the process. Published in the Federal Register upon issuance, the regulations go into effect on November 9, 1999.

"While these new regulations are not a cure-all for resolving all of the concerns with the federal EEO complaint process, they are a vital step in making the process more efficient, timely, and fair," Ms. Castro said. "The Commission will continue to examine key areas in need of reform in close collaboration with those who have a critical stake in our work."

In developing the new regulations, EEOC consulted extensively with a broad range of individuals and groups -- including employee and agency representatives -- and incorporated many of their recommendations. The text of the regulations and a Q&A document about the revised rules, as well as other information about the Commission, are available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov.

EEOC enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which protects workers 40 and older; the Equal Pay Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in the private sector and state and local governments; prohibitions against discrimination affecting persons with disabilities in the federal government; and sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1991.