Sep 9 2008
Legal Momentum, counsel for laborer Jacqueline Miller, today announced the resolution of Ms. Miller's discrimination case against Conti of New York, LLC. In a 2005 complaint to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ms. Miller alleged that Conti failed to hire her as a laborer on a state-funded Lower Manhattan construction project -- the rebuilding of the West Side Highway adjacent to the World Trade Center site -- because she is a woman.
While Conti denied Ms. Miller's claims, it agreed to enhance its efforts to assure equal employment opportunity (EEO) for women workers on its sites, such as by designating an on-site EEO monitor, improving its EEO policies, and conducting regular EEO training for all employees. Conti also will continue to make good faith efforts to achieve greater levels of women's workforce participation on its jobsites, and to educate its subcontractors about its policies against discrimination. Finally, in order to avoid litigation costs, Conti also agreed to pay Ms. Miller an amount representing compensation she potentially would have earned while working on the West Side Highway site.
"We applaud Conti's willingness to examine its practices and take positive steps to help eliminate some of the barriers women face in the construction trades," said Irasema Garza, President of Legal Momentum. "Ms. Miller is pleased that her efforts will lead to greater opportunities for her peers in the industry."