Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Local 120 United Ass'n of Journeymen & Apprentices

**Court Rules Against Union in Discrimination Case** This case involved a long-running discrimination lawsuit where the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued a plumbers' union on behalf of workers. The EEOC claimed that Local 120 United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry discriminated against certain workers, violating federal employment laws. The court ruled in favor of the EEOC and the workers they represented. The union lost the case in the lower court, and when they appealed to a higher court, they lost again. The appeals court upheld the original decision and also confirmed that the union had to pay the legal fees for the EEOC's attorneys who worked on the case. This ruling matters for workers because it shows that unions - just like employers - cannot discriminate against workers based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or other factors covered by federal law. It also demonstrates that when workers face discrimination, they can seek help from the EEOC, and if they win their case, the discriminating party may have to pay legal costs. This helps make it easier for workers to fight discrimination without worrying about expensive legal bills.