For every big win secured by attorneys at Equal Rights Advocates in courthouses and statehouses, there are dozens of small but significant victories achieved for women and girls through advice and counseling and behind-the-scenes negotiation. In recent months, ERA’s legal team has negotiated close to quarter of a million dollars for our clients to resolve allegations of gender and pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, and violations of pregnancy leave-related laws.

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.

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