Schultz v. Wheaton Glass Co. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shultz v. Wheaton Glass Co. |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Court | United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit |
| Full case name | George P. Shultz, Secretary of Labor, United States Department of Labor, v. Wheaton Glass Company |
| Decided | January 13, 1970 |
| Citation(s) | 421 F.2d 259 (3rd Cir. 1970) |
| Case opinions | |
| Freedman | |
| Court membership | |
| Judge(s) sitting | Abraham Lincoln Freedman, Collins Jacques Seitz, & Ruggero J. Aldisert |
Shultz v. Wheaton Glass Co. was an important court case from 1970. It was heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. This court is a high-level court that reviews decisions made by lower courts.
This case helped explain what "equal pay for equal work" means for men and women. It looked at how the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Civil Rights Act protect workers. The court decided that if two jobs are mostly the same, even if they have different names, they should pay the same. An employer cannot pay someone less just by giving their job a new title. This is seen as unfair treatment.
What Happened in the Case
This case was about a company called Wheaton Glass. They had a factory in Millville, New Jersey. The company hired men for a job called "selector-packer-stackers." They also hired women for a job called "selector-packers."
Even though the job titles were a little different, both men and women did very similar work. They worked in the company's warehouse. But the men with the longer job title were paid much more money. This difference in pay led to the lawsuit.
Why This Case Matters
This court case is very important for understanding fair pay. It made it clear that companies cannot use small differences in job titles to pay men and women differently for the same work. The court said that jobs are "substantially equal" if they involve similar skills, effort, and responsibilities.
The ruling helped make sure that the Equal Pay Act of 1963 was followed. This law says that employers must pay men and women equally for doing the same job. The Shultz v. Wheaton Glass Co. case was a big step towards making workplaces fairer for everyone.
