SOCIAL JUSTICE BLOG

Read and share extraordinary stories from the frontlines of social change

Class Action Breaks Pattern & Practice of Discrimination For 67,000 Women
Class Action Hall of Fame, Gender Discrimination Teddy Basham-Witherington Class Action Hall of Fame, Gender Discrimination Teddy Basham-Witherington

Class Action Breaks Pattern & Practice of Discrimination For 67,000 Women

Ms. McConnell was terminated from her store manager job at Sterling after objecting to blatant sexual harassment and was told by her district manager that she could not fight Sterling because “you are only one person.” Ms. McConnell replied, “It only takes one.” McConnell filed her initial charge with the EEOC without an attorney and sought help from the federal government.  Other Plaintiffs, like Dawn Souto-Coons, became fed up with the continued denials of promotion opportunities and the unfair pay she was experiencing, and reacted by getting angry and then hiring experienced class action attorneys to assist her. Ms. Souto-Coons said, “I was so mad, it was just an old boys’ club.”

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A Beginner’s Guide to Forced Arbitration: A Barrier to Social and Economic Justice 
Forced Arbitration, Economic Justice Teddy Basham-Witherington Forced Arbitration, Economic Justice Teddy Basham-Witherington

A Beginner’s Guide to Forced Arbitration: A Barrier to Social and Economic Justice 

Concealed in the fine print of many standard-form contracts, arbitration clauses force workers and consumers to give up their right to sue a company in court. Most forced arbitration agreements also contain class action waivers, which ban people from bringing and joining class action lawsuits against companies. People who are subject to forced arbitration agreements are instead required to resolve disputes with companies through private, individual arbitration. Meaningfully addressing and remedying social and economic injustice requires an end to forced arbitration.

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Stunned by the Wall Street culture of harassment, one brave woman says "no" and becomes a Class Action Hero.
Class Action Hall of Fame, Class Actions, Gender Discrimination Teddy Basham-Witherington Class Action Hall of Fame, Class Actions, Gender Discrimination Teddy Basham-Witherington

Stunned by the Wall Street culture of harassment, one brave woman says "no" and becomes a Class Action Hero.

Overnight, I was locked out of my accounts, stripped of my livelihood and my office was relocated to the deep hinterlands of the building where I was isolated from coworkers who no longer acknowledged me, left with only a small box of belongings and my dignity. At that moment I decided I would never, ever let them see me cry. I had two choices, put my tail between my legs and run or stand my ground. I didn’t have anything more to lose; there was only one choice, stand back up.

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