FILM STUDIO TO PAY ON CLAIM OF UNFAIR COMPENSATION.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

BURBANK - Warner Bros. will pay more than $143,744 to a group of female and minority employees who had claimed they were discriminated against in terms of salary, according to a settlement announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) launched an investigation more than three years ago as part of a routine compliance review that any company contracting with the U.S. government can be subject to.

OFCCP investigators found that 14 female employees were being paid less than their male counterparts and that three minority employees were not being paid as much as nonminority employees in the same position. All of the employees had managerial, supervisorial or administrative job titles.

``A key component of OFCCP's mission is to make sure workers are paid without regards to their race, color, religion, sex or national origin,'' Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao said in a statement. ``We are committed to strong enforcement against compensation discrimination and are pleased to have reached this agreement on behalf of the workers.''

Warner Bros. spokeswoman Barbara Brogliatti said that despite agreeing to pay a combined total of $143,744 in back pay and interest to the 17 workers, the company admits no wrongdoing.

``We want everyone to be clear that none of their allegations were proven and we did not admit to breaking any rules,'' Brogliatti said.

Warner Bros.' business ties with the government involve distributing films to the military and selling DVDs on military bases, which, Brogliatti said, ``makes you a government contractor.''