Contact: Terry O’Neill
Executive Director
(415) 296-7629
toneill@nelahq.org
NELA Applauds New Legislation To End Forced Arbitration In Employment
WASHINGTON, DC — The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) applauds Senators ____and Representatives Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Hank Johnson (D-GA), and others TBD for introducing the Restoring Justice for Workers Act (RJWA) on date. Last year, in Epic Systems, Corp. v. Lewis, the U.S. Supreme Court made a grave error in upholding forced arbitration clauses that also prevent workers from joining together to litigate workplace mistreatment collectively. The Restoring Justice for Workers Act does exactly what its name says it does by banning forced arbitration of workplace disputes once and for all. The Restoring Justice for Workers Act will open the courthouse doors and restore workers’ access to America’s civil justice system.
NELA Executive Director Terry O’Neill stated, “Forced arbitration is a system that was intentionally developed by corporate America to avoid accountability and circumvent laws that were enacted to protect working people. Workers who are forced to address disputes in private arbitration are denied fundamental fairness, due process, and transparency that are part of any court proceeding, while employers avoid public accountability.” O’Neill added, “Congress enacted legislation to protect workers from wage theft, workplace harassment, and discrimination on the job, but forced arbitration prevents harmed employees from accessing a court to enforce those laws. The Restoring Justice For Workers Act is long overdue for all of America’s workers. NELA urges Congress pass this legislation without delay.”
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The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. NELA provides assistance and support to lawyers in protecting the rights of employees against the greater resources of their employers and the defense bar. It is the country’s largest professional organization exclusively comprised of lawyers who represent individual employees in cases involving employment discrimination and other employment-related matters. NELA and its 69 circuit, state, and local Affiliates have more than 4,000 members around the country.