Biggins v. International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO

**Biggins v. International Union of Painters and Allied Trades: Employment Discrimination Case** **What Happened** A worker named Biggins filed a discrimination lawsuit against the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, a labor union affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The case involved claims that the union engaged in employment discrimination, though the specific details of what type of discrimination occurred are not clear from available records. **What the Court Decided** The outcome of this case filed in Maryland federal court in February 2022 is not yet determined or publicly available. The case appears to still be working its way through the legal system. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights an important principle: workers can file discrimination claims not just against their employers, but also against their own unions. Labor unions have legal obligations to treat their members fairly and cannot discriminate based on protected characteristics like race, gender, age, or religion. If a union engages in discriminatory practices in areas like job referrals, apprenticeship programs, or member services, workers have the right to seek legal remedies. This reinforces that all workplace organizations - including those meant to protect workers - must follow anti-discrimination laws.