Even though it say it didn’t do it, Cargill Meat Solutions hasagreed to pay $2.2 million to settle a hiring discrimination casewith the U.S. Department of Labor.

The case was filed in 2011 by the DOL’s Office of FederalContract Compliance Programs. The suit charged Cargill withengaging in discriminatory hiring practices involving nearly 3,000job applicants at meat production facilities in Colorado, Arkansasand Illinois. Cargill, according to the government, rejectedworkers based on race, sex and national origin.

Cargill Meat Solutions, a unit of Minneapolis-based CargillInc., said it agreed to the settlement to avoid the cost of aprotracted legal defense against the claims. It called the federalallegations “unfounded and with merit.”

“The decision to settle was not taken lightly, because wework hard every day to ensure compliance with all hiring laws, andwe have an unwavering commitment to diversity and equal employmentopportunity,” said Cargill Senior Vice President BillBuckner.

“The plants involved in the bundled settlement include Fort Morgan,Colo. (beef); Springdale, Ark. (turkey); and Beardstown, Ill.(pork). They have diverse employee populations, representing dozensof nationalities. It’s a fact we take great pride in, especiallybecause these communities are thriving with economic prosperitythat results from the diverse Cargill employee population.”

The DOL said it had a solid case and that the settlement ensuredjustice for those who had been wronged.

“This settlement will benefit thousands of workers who weresubjected to unfair discrimination,” said U.S. Secretary of LaborThomas E. Perez. “And it demonstrates the Department of Labor'scommitment to ensuring that everybody has a fair and equal shot atcompeting for good jobs.”