Safiyyah Maalik v. International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 2

Union Discriminated Against Worker in Training Program

Safiyyah Maalik, a woman seeking to become an elevator constructor, sued her union after experiencing discrimination during her apprenticeship training. Maalik claimed that master mechanics refused to provide her with proper on-the-job training because of her race and gender, and that the union failed to address this problem when she complained.

Initially, a lower court dismissed her case. However, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision and ruled in Maalik's favor. The appeals court found that the union violated federal civil rights law by discriminating against Maalik in how it administered its apprenticeship program. Specifically, the court held that the union was legally responsible for failing to take action against the master mechanics who refused to train her based on her race and sex.

This ruling is important for workers because it establishes that unions have a legal duty to protect their members from discrimination during training programs. If supervisors or trainers refuse to properly train someone because of their race, gender, or other protected characteristics, the union cannot simply ignore the problem—they must take steps to stop the discrimination or face legal liability themselves.