Weber v. Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation
Weber v. Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation is a landmark Supreme Court case that addressed the complexities of affirmative action in the workplace. The case emerged when Brian Weber, a white worker, challenged a voluntary affirmative action plan implemented by the United Steelworkers of America union and Kaiser Aluminum, which aimed to ensure that 50% of new skilled craft trainees were African American. This initiative was designed to reflect the racial demographics of the local labor force in Louisiana, where the Kaiser plant operated. Initially, lower federal courts found that the plan violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in employment.
However, on June 27, 1979, the Supreme Court overturned these lower court rulings, concluding that Congress did not intend to ban all voluntary affirmative action strategies aimed at dismantling racial segregation in employment. This pivotal ruling expanded job opportunities for African Americans, contributing to ongoing debates about the role and implications of affirmative action in the United States. The decision remains significant in discussions about race, equality, and the balance between addressing historical injustices and ensuring fair treatment in the workplace.
Weber v. Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation
Brian Weber, a white worker, challenged a voluntary affirmative action plan created by the United Steelworkers of America union and the Kaiser Corporation. A quota of 50 percent of new skilled craft trainees were to be African American until the percentage of African Americans in a Louisiana plant equaled the percentage of blacks in the local labor force. Lower federal courts judged that this affirmative action plan violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits racial discrimination in employment of people such as Weber.
On June 27, 1979, the US Supreme Court reversed the lower court decisions and ruled that Congress did not intend to prohibit all voluntary, race-conscious affirmative action plans designed to break down patterns of racial segregation. This decision opened employment opportunities historically closed to African Americans. It remains a controversial decision in the debate over affirmative action.
Bibliography
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McDonald, Laughlin. "United Steelworkers vs. Weber: Affirmative Action on Trial." Southern Changes 1.9 (1979): 14–17. Beck Ctr., Emory Libraries. Web. 15 May. 2015.
Moen, Ole O. Race, Color, and Partial Blindness: Affirmative Action Under the Law. Portland: Solum Forlag, 2001. Print.
"United Steelworkers of America v. Weber." Oyez. Oyez, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2014. Web. 15 May. 2015.
"United Steelworkers v. Weber." Rule of Law. Heritage Foundation, 2015. Web. 15 May. 2015.