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Teamsters v. United States, 431 U.S. 324 (1977) is a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that statistical evidence can be used to show systematic discrimination. It also held that seniority systems enacted before Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and maintained after Title VII's effective date, do not violate Title VII.

Background
This case arose out of two separate lawsuits brought by the United States Attorney General against Time-DC, a nationwide common carrier shipping company. The first lawsuit was filed in 1968 in the Middle District of Tennessee for discriminatory hiring, assignment, and promotion policies against African Americans at Time-DC's facility in Nashville. Three years later, the United States sued Time-DC for pattern and practice discrimination against hispanic and African American employees and applicants in the Northern District of Texas. The employees' union, Teamsters was joined as a defendant in the Northern District of Texas. The two cases were consolidated for trial in the Northern District of Texas.

Title VII was amended in 1972 to transfer enforcement power from the United States Attorney General to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Trial Court
At trial, the central issue was whether the company engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination against African American and hispanic employees and applicants in hiring line drivers. The government alleged that African American and hispanics were given lower paying, less desirable jobs than white employees and applicants. The government also challenged the seniority system implemented by the union.