LAW FIRM GENERATES $45 MILLION FOR CBP FEMALE EMPLOYEES

We just read that the Gilbert Employment Law (GEL) Group has racked up another huge $$$ win for CBP employees. Although federal employees can only be represented by their union if they file a contract grievance, they can turn to any law firm when they file under EEO, MSPB or similar processes. These firms often take up cases unions are not interested in or do not realize are staring them in the face. The Gilbert Group in Maryland is one of the most aggressive at enforcing these rights employees have outside their contracts. 

In this case, GEL (along with a partner firm) has convinced Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to distribute $45 million dollars to employees who were harmed by enforced light duty and other disparate treatment once they announced they were pregnant. I am going to assume that CBP management thought it was protecting its “gals” from harm during their “with child”  months, but like so many other leaders wandering around today grabbing headlines about what is best for women they did not realize that women should be allowed to make these decisions for themselves.

Typically, when CBP management tried to “protect” a pregnant employee, the employee lost thousands of dollars in overtime,  permanent promotion opportunities, etc.

If you know of a CBP employee who has been pregnant in the last few years, you might want to let them know about this litigation victory.

Click here for a more detailed story on the settlement. Given that this is not the first time GEL has stepped in to successfully represent CBP employees on matters they are not required to process through their union, CBP employees are lucky to have such an aggressive, creative and skilled rep regularly watching out for them.