Equality at Work Turns 50 with Milestone Anniversary of the Signing of Executive Order 11246
September 24th Event Unites Civil Rights and
Federal Contractor Communities Honoring Fairness and Equality in the
American Workplace
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On September 24, 1965, the Nation took a historic step forward when
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Executive Order 11246 (“EO 11246”)
requiring federal contractors to ensure equal employment opportunity
based on race, color, religion, or national origin. Amended by President
Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967 to protect women from employment
discrimination, and by President Barack H. Obama on July 21, 2014 to
protect employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and
gender identity, EO 11246 continues to lead America’s success in federal
contractors achieving equal employment opportunities in the American
workplace.
On September 24, 2015, in commemoration of that historic civil rights
milestone, The
OFCCP Institute (“The Institute”), a national, Washington,
D.C.-based nonprofit employer association, will host a 50th
anniversary celebratory event at the Wilson Center in Washington D.C.
Receiving widespread support from the civil rights and federal
contractor communities, supporters of the anniversary event include The
Memorial Foundation, Builders of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial,
the National Civil Rights Museum, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Boeing,
General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and more.
The event is being held in recognition of the struggles of the first 50
years and to celebrate the many accomplishments achieved by federal
contractors under EO 11246 and related programs to move the workplace
towards greater equality. The celebration will also serve as a reunion
of former OFCCP directors of the last 50 years presented by The
Honorable Cari M. Dominguez, former OFCCP Director (1989-1991) and Chair
of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2001-2006), as it
honors the leadership that helped create a clear path for greater
employment opportunity for all.
The event will also include a preview of Equal Opportunity in the
U.S.: A Historical Retrospective. This specially produced
documentary tells the story of equal opportunity in America and
addresses the accomplishments by federal contractors made under the
Executive Order as told by former OFCCP Directors. Following the event,
the complete documentary film will be donated to the National Civil
Rights Museum.
To continue the legacy of EO 11246 for the next generation, The
Institute, in partnership with D.C. Public Schools (“DCPS”) will also
announce the new EO 11246 Equality at Work Scholarship Foundation and an
essay contest open to Class of 2016 DCPS graduating high school seniors
to compete for a $40,000 scholarship fund that will provide four $10,000
college scholarships for seniors in the District of Columbia public
schools.
Said David S. Fortney, Co-chair, The Institute, “We tip our hat to those
within the civil rights and federal contractor communities over the last
50 years who have led successful efforts to eradicate unlawful workplace
discrimination. We also thank those who have helped make the 50th
anniversary of Executive Order 11246 a true milestone event not to be
ignored. Equal opportunity in the workplace continues to be a critical
goal as we ensure that underrepresented groups be given an equal chance
to compete for employment opportunities in the American workplace. The
OFCCP Institute is proud to honor these significant achievements that
have benefited America.”
Said Harry E. Johnson, President and CEO, The Memorial Foundation, Inc.,
“The 50th Anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 11246 is an
historical event for the civil rights and federal contractor
communities, ultimately creating a more equitable workplace in the
United States. We join The OFCCP Institute and the civil rights
community at large in commemorating this truly meaningful action with
this much-deserved anniversary celebration.”
About Executive Order 11246: Signed more than two years after the
Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech
on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and more than a year after the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 became the law of the land, EO 11246 charged
the Secretary of Labor, a Cabinet-level official with strong enforcement
authority, with the responsibility of ensuring equal opportunity for
minorities in federal contractors’ recruitment, hiring, training and
other employment practices. Until that time, such efforts had been in
the hands of various Presidential committees. EO 11246 further
reinforced the requirement that federal contractors not discriminate in
employment, and that they take affirmative action to ensure equal
opportunity based on race, color, religion and national origin.
Executive Order 11246 prohibits federal contractors and
federally–assisted construction contractors and subcontractors, who do
over $10,000 in Government business in one year from discriminating in
employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or national origin. The Executive Order
also requires Government contractors to take affirmative action to
ensure that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects of their
employment.
About The OFCCP Institute: The OFCCP Institute (“The Institute”)
is a national nonprofit employer association based in Washington, DC.
The Institute trains and educates federal contractors in understanding
and complying with their affirmative action and equal employment
obligations. The Institute also addresses related human resource
management strategies to assist employers in creating and maintaining
diverse organizations free from workplace bias. The Institute is not
affiliated with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal
Contract Compliance Programs. More information can be found by visiting https://theofccpinstitute.org
and https://theofccpinstitute.org/50thanniversary/index.html.
Contacts
Finn Partners
Rosalie M. Hagel/Lauren Dunaj, 954-765-3636 /
954-258-5859 (cell)
rosalie.hagel@finnpartners.com
lauren.dunaj@finnpartners.com
or
The
OFCCP Institute
Erika Kim, 202-293-2220
ekim@theofccpinstitute.org
