In one case, ERA helped tradeswoman Jeanine Dubois, who works as an electrician for the City & County of San Francisco, receive compensation and other relief for her claims of sex discrimination in pay and promotions. At ERA, we know that tradeswomen are historically discriminated against at work in male-dominated industries.

ERA attorneys also have successfully negotiated a string of settlements on behalf of pregnant women who were denied modest accommodations at work or fired when they requested them. One woman, who worked as a machine operator at a mailing and marketing services company and spoke only Spanish, was retaliated against and fired after taking her pregnancy leave. As part of the settlement, that company will improve its leave notices and translate them into other languages. A second woman, an East African immigrant who works in health care, was fired after requesting pregnancy leave. In addition to the monetary settlement, the company agreed to seal her dismissal records and she was able to get a job with a different employer.

“ERA takes a truly holistic approach to advocating for the rights of women and girls,” said ERA Legal Director Jennifer Reisch.  “Coupled with our work on broader impact litigation, like Dukes v. Wal-Mart, and our legislative advocacy on issues such as equal pay and fair treatment of working families, we believe that the direct service element of our work is an essential part of our overall strategy to ensure gender justice,” Reisch added.  “It is also extremely effective in bringing about necessary and timely changes in schools and workplaces.”

ERA will continue to negotiate and litigate on behalf of women workers who face barriers to equal employment opportunity and fair pay. For more information on our advocacy on behalf of women workers, click here. You can also support the rights of women and working families by joining our national and California campaigns to strengthen protections for caregivers and pregnant women at work here.

While counseling her on how to navigate her work situation, ERA prepared a demand letter on her behalf.  ERA successfully negotiated a settlement for the woman, which among other things, required the company to strengthen its internal sexual harassment policies and complaint procedure. Our client has recently found new employment and is happy she can now put the mistreatment she experienced behind her.

For more on how ERA supports marginalized women workers, click here. To reach the Advice and Counseling hotline, click here.

Redmund Sum owns and operates an electronics manufacturer and distributor called Silver Center America in Fremont.

According to one of the plaintiffs, Britanni Brown, Sum routinely made inappropriate sexual comments at work to the discomfort of his two sole female employees. The misconduct escalated though, when Sum groped and fondled Brown in his office, telling her that he had “always wanted” to do that.

ERA Legal Director Jennifer Reisch and Staff Attorney Monali Sheth, who represent the two women, say that such mistreatment of female workers is altogether too common.

“Unfortunately, sexual harassment and assault of women at work has become national epidemic,” said Sheth. “This case highlights the acuity of the problem in male-dominated industries like electronics manufacturing. What our clients have experienced on the job is extremely disturbing, and ERA will continue its advocacy until the workplace is safe and free of harassment for all women.”

To read a copy of the complaint in Brown et al v. Silver Center America, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, click here.