NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A subsidiary of the Bayer
Corporation faces a class-action lawsuit that claims the company discriminated
against women, particularly pregnant women and mothers.

The $100 million suit against Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals
was filed in U.S. District Court in Newark
on Monday. The Wayne, N.J.-based company is a subsidiary of Bayer, whose
American headquarters are in Pittsburgh.

The lawsuit claims the company discriminated against its
female employees and cites instances in which managers allegedly said the
company shouldn’t hire women of child-bearing age.

The suit also quotes an article distributed by the company
that described women as unsuitable for management because they were prone to
“mood swings,” “indecision” and “backstabbing.”

In a statement, Bayer denied the charges and said it is
committed to equal treatment for all employees.