The bankrupt Star Tribune will fork over as much as $325,000 to settle a long-running sexual harassment case affecting as many as 78 female mailroom workers.

U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery approved the deal Thursday.

The case dates from August 2005, before current owners Avista Capital Partners took over, but continued during the current regime. Two women alleged that they were "subject to sexist slurs, being sworn at, and having sex-based comments made to them. Co-workers would tell them to put up with it because they were working in the 'male room,'" according to a federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit filed in September 2008.

Management has denied wrongdoing and said it settled to avoid costlier litigation. The paper reported Thursday that it had also agreed to employ a supervisor on every mail room shift, provide training, prohibit harassment and retaliation, and make a human resources staffer specifically responsible.

Mailroom workers assemble the papers and ready it for delivery. The settlement approval comes just days after the mailers' union agreed to deep pay cuts. Management had sought to reduce $25-an-hour pay to $15 per hour, reducing $50,000 jobs to $30,000.

EEOC litigator Laurie Vasichek says the settlement breaks down as follows:

• Three women who ultimately filed charges with the EEOC will split $175,000.

• Another 40 women who filed claims will split $90,000.

• Those 40 women, plus as many as 35 who sign waivers, will receive $800 each, up to $60,000. If fewer than 60 total sign up, they'll receive $530 each, up to $40,000.

Any unspent balance in the $40,000 or $60,000 will not be returned to the Star Tribune. Instead, it will go to a charity of the EEOC's choice.