Alyeska Pipeline Co. is sued

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- The Alyeska Pipeline Services Co. is facing a federal lawsuit accusing the Anchorage, Alaska-based, firm of discriminating against minority employees.

Attorneys for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission allege Hispanic, Native American and black employees in the firm's contracts department at company headquarters were passed over for promotions, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Alyeska is owned by five oil companies, including BP, Conoco Phillips and Exxon Mobil. It runs the 800-mile trans-Alaska oil pipeline and Valdez tanker port.

With 858 employees, it is Alaska's 17th largest private employer. The company employs 247 minority group members, the report said.

A company spokesman said the company is working with regulators to address concerns about its employment practices.