Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Local 638 ... Local 28 of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Ass'n

**Court Rules Against Sheet Metal Workers Union for Discriminatory Hiring** This case involved the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) suing two local chapters of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association for discriminatory hiring and membership practices. The EEOC argued that these union locals had a pattern of unfairly excluding certain groups from joining the union and getting jobs in the skilled trades. The court sided with the EEOC, finding that the union locals were indeed guilty of discriminatory hiring and membership practices. The judge determined that the unions had systematically prevented qualified workers from joining based on protected characteristics, rather than merit or skills. As a remedy, the court ordered the unions to implement specific membership goals and follow affirmative action requirements to correct these discriminatory practices. This ruling is significant for workers because it demonstrates that unions—despite their role in protecting workers—are not above the law when it comes to fair hiring and membership practices. The decision reinforced that all workers deserve equal opportunities to join unions and access skilled trade jobs, regardless of their background. It also showed that federal agencies like the EEOC will take action against discriminatory practices in organized labor, helping ensure fairer access to good-paying union jobs.