As we mentioned in our previous post, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) marked the 20th anniversary of its signing on Monday, July 26. When George H.W. Bush signed the law, he borrowed a line from President Ronald Reagan's speech pertaining to the fall of the Berlin wall, proclaiming, "Let the shameful walls of exclusion finally come tumbling down."
What's Next for the Americans With Disabilities Act?
Americans with Disabilities Act Marks 20 Years This Week
It was 20 years ago Monday that President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The law's goal was to break down barriers facing people with disabilities in society and the workplace. The ADA is a broad law that is meant to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities and to prevent them from being discriminated against, much like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on religion, race, sex, national origin, and other factors.
Vilsack, White House Admit Sherrod Was Unfairly Fired
Agriculture SecretaryTom Vilsack has admitted that USDA worker Shirley Sherrod was unfairly fired when he made a hasty decision based on inaccurate and misleading facts. Sherrod, the USDA Georgia State Rural Development Director, was featured on conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart's site in an edited video in which she spoke about not putting her full effort into helping out a white farmer in need. Breitbart was using the video to say that the USDA has perpetuated racial discrimination.
Employees File Race Discrimination Lawsuit Against Edison
The Contra Costa Times reports that current and former employees of Southern California Edison filed a race discrimination lawsuit Tuesday against the company in Los Angeles Superior Court. The eleven current and former black employees accuse the company of perpetuating a negative work environment that is racially hostile.
Laid-Off CA Workers Sue Toyota, Factory, Claim Unfair Severance
According to The Associated Press, former employees of the closed Nummi auto plant filed a lawsuit against the factory and Toyota on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Oakland, California. The employees say the Fremont-based company discriminated against them because they were on disability at the time of the factory's closure and, for that reason, were compensated less in their severance packages.
24 Hour Fitness Sued by Employees for Discrimination
According to the San Francisco Business Times, employees of the gym chain 24 Hour Fitness have filed a class-action lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court alleging race and gender discrimination on the part of their employer. The employees allege that the San Ramon-based company's employment practices systematically discriminated against female and minority employees, resulting in lower pay and the denial of promotions for female and minority employees. They accuse their employer of violating California's Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Business and Profession Code.
Is Google Discriminating Against Unmarried Domestic Partners?
This month, retroactive to January 1, Google will begin reimbursing its U.S. employees who pay federal tax on health benefits for their same-sex domestic partners. Google now belongs to a small contingency of employers who are actively trying to offset tax code inequities.
Attorneys Fees for EEOC Proceedings
Civilian Federal Employees Can Seek in a Federal Court Lawsuit Just Their Attorney Fees for EEOC Administrative Proceedings
Man Suing Pacifica, CA, Company for Wrongful Termination
A former employee of Coastside Scavenger has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the company. Jose Castellanos was an employee of the trash hauling and recycling company for 37 years before he was fired a year ago, which he alleges was in retaliation for his reputation as a whistleblower.
Medical Marijuana Patient Sues Wal-Mart for Wrongful Termination
The American Civil Liberties Union has helped a Michigan man file a wrongful termination lawsuit against Wal-Mart, who fired him for using marijuana, even though the drug had been prescribed by his doctor. The ACLU says that fourteen U.S. states and the District of Columbia protect medical marijuana patients who are using the drug on a doctor's orders.