Pay Equity - Cases

The ACLU works to end discrimination in the workplace and ensure that all workers — regardless of sex, race, national origin, age or disability—are able to bring home every dollar they rightfully earn. As a result of discrimination, including employers’ reliance on gender stereotypes, women lack parity with men in earnings.

Wal-Mart v. Dukes
At issue was whether this sex discrimination case against Wal-Mart should be allowed to proceed as a class action.
More:

• On the First Anniversary of Wal-Mart v. Dukes: Stand Up or Be Trampled (blog post)
• Wal-Mart Now “Women-Friendly?” We Don’t Think So (blog post)
• Women of Wal-Mart Fight for Their Day in Court (blog post)
• SCOTUS to Wal-Mart Women: You’re on Your Own (blog post)

Davis v. Cintas
In Davis v. Cintas, an appeals court will decide whether women around the country who applied to be sales representatives at Cintas — a company that rents uniforms and supplies to businesses — can bring a class action to challenge what they claim are Cintas’s discriminatory hiring practices. Read our amicus brief in the case here and a blog on the issue at hand.

Covarrubias v. Capt. Charlie’s Seafood Inc.
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of North Carolina and the North Carolina Justice Center filed a class action lawsuit and charges of discrimination against Capt. Charlie’s Seafood, Inc. on behalf of three temporary H-2B visa workers for unlawfully restricting them to certain work solely because they are women. The class action lawsuit charged that the company underpaid H-2B visa workers and failed to reimburse them for visa and travel costs.
More:

• North Carolina Seafood Company to Implement Gender Non-Discrimination Policy After Guest Workers’ Lawsuit (news)
• Women Guestworkers Challenge Seafood Company’s Gender-Based Job Restrictions (news)
• Sorry, Charlie. (blog post)
• Covarrubias v. Capt. Charlie’s Seafood Inc. – Consent Decree (legal document)

U.S. v. New York City Board of Education
The American Civil Liberties Union represents the New York City Custodial Workers in a discrimination case.
More:

• ACLU Defends NYC School Custodians After Justice Department Dumps Their Discrimination Case (news)
• Female and Minority Custodians in New York Can Keep Benefits Won in Discrimination Case, Judge Rules (news)

SPECIAL FEATURE
50th Anniversary of Equal Pay Act
This year marks the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s signing of the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This landmark piece of federal anti-discrimination law was one of the very first to address gender-based pay disparities. On the day he signed it, President Kennedy called the act a “first step” which “affirms our determination that when women enter the labor force they will find equality in their pay envelopes.” But he noted that “much remains to be done to achieve full equality of economic opportunity.”
Learn More »

SPECIAL FEATURE
Pay Equity
The ACLU works to end discrimination in the workplace and ensure that all workers — regardless of sex, race, national origin, age or disability—are able to bring home every dollar they rightfully earn. As a result of discrimination, including employers’ reliance on gender stereotypes, women lack parity with men in earnings.
Learn More »