Seattle ? Current and former black employees of Boeing Co. have been granted class-action status in their lawsuit accusing the defense giant of discrimination and harassing black workers.

The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman, means about 15,000 black salaried workers employed by the Chicago-based company from June 6, 1994, to the present can unite under one complaint to seek damages.

The suit, filed in 1998, doesn’t include executives and technicians represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace.

The Seattle law firm Hagens Berman said the plaintiffs were seeking back pay, punitive damages and an injunction ordering Boeing not to discriminate.

Boeing spokesman Ken Mercer said: “The certification decision is a procedural ruling and not based on the merits of the complaint. Boeing is confident it will prevail at trial on the issues.”