THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, June 10, 1995                TAG: 9506100306
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA                         LENGTH: Short :   48 lines

CIA SEX-BIAS SETTLEMENT IS APPROVED BY JUDGE

A federal judge approved a $990,000 settlement of a sex discrimination suit against the CIA on Friday despite the objections of nine of the 10 women who filed it.

Against the advice of their own lawyers, the protesters had asked the judge to kill the settlement, saying it provided inadequate compensation for years of virulent discrimination and would not guarantee protection from unfair treatment in the future.

The women said it did nothing to change practices that stunted their careers in the spy agency's directorate of operations.

During Friday's hearing, attorneys representing the women called the agreement fair, adequate, reasonable and the best they could manage during months of intense negotiations.

The CIA has agreed to pay $940,000 to resolve claims for back pay and interest as part of the settlement. The agency wouldn't disclose the exact number of women who would share the money, but said it was around 400.

Under the settlement, retroactive promotions will be offered to 25 class members, and the CIA will offer ``career-enhancing'' assignments, to 15 others. Nine women will receive special training opportunities that will improve their chances for promotion.

The suit doesn't set any goals, timetables or quotas for the CIA. In fact, the protesters said, it requires no concrete changes in policy.

The CIA, however, has agreed to report male and female promotion rates to class lawyers annually for three years. The agency also promised to hire an expert to develop and recommend standards to be used in making promotion decisions, paying particular attention to gender equity.

In a written statement, CIA Director John Deutch said he was pleased with the judge's ruling and announced plans to appoint a new agency panel to end workplace discrimination.

The agreement settles the claims of women who suffered discrimination as a result of promotion practices or patterns. Women who claim individual incidents of discrimination - a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor, for example - still can file lawsuits.

KEYWORDS: SUIT SEX DISCRIMINATION SETTLEMENT by CNB