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MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) — A federal attorney has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Wisconsin Department of the Military refused to pay women applying for managerial positions the same amount as male candidates.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state agency in federal court in Madison on Thursday.
The lawsuit alleges that Michelle Hartness applied in 2016 for a supervisory position within Wisconsin Emergency Management, a division of WDMA.
The supervisor’s salary range was listed in the job posting as $79,040 to $91,250. His WDMA leader at the time, Lieutenant General Donald Dunbar, offered Hartness the job at an annual salary of $78,000, according to the lawsuit. Not only was the salary offered below the published range, but about 11% less than the outgoing male boss, according to the complaint.
Dunbar eventually raised the offer to $79,049, the lower end of the salary range. According to the lawsuit, that was about $8,174 less than the retired male supervisor earned, and Hartness turned down the job.
WDMA has submitted the job again. Hartness was still interested, but according to her lawsuit, Dunbar wanted her back, even though her job posting stated that the agency would consider all applicants from the first round. refused to consider.
Dunbar offered three different men jobs in a row, promising to pay the first two $87,000. Both declined the offer. A third man he accepted the position for $85,000 and a year later he had a $1,000 raise.
The lawsuit alleges that the WDMA discriminated against Hartness based on her gender, claiming she was more qualified than the man who ultimately got the job. A state emergency government expert, it was a lower level position than Hartness applied for. He also lacked Hartness’ experience managing grants, and the selection committee ranked Hartness more qualified than he was, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of owed Hartsness and damages to compensate for her pain and suffering.
WDMA spokesperson Aimee Lynn Reynolds said the agency takes the conduct alleged in the lawsuit “very seriously” but declined to comment further as the lawsuit is pending. rice field.
Dunbar was elected Governor Tony Evers in December 2019, following a scathing federal report that found that the Wisconsin National Guard had mishandled complaints of soldier sexual assault and harassment for years. resigned at the request of The Wisconsin National Guard has authorized internal investigations into complaints that violate federal law, Department of Defense and National Guard Service policies, according to a report from the Washington, D.C. National Guard Service.
The Wisconsin National Guard is housed within the WDMA.
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