Lawsuit Says EEOC Has Halted All Federal-Sector Class Complaints

A labor union and two female prison employees have filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging the agency has unlawfully issued an indefinite suspension of all federal-sector class complaints. The plaintiffs, including the American Federation of Government Employees, claim the EEOC has halted proceedings before administrative judges without providing a reasoned explanation. This suspension affects various cases, including a certified class complaint involving at least 182 women at a Louisiana federal prison who allege widespread sexual harassment by inmates.

The lawsuit highlights that the suspension prevents federal workers from accessing the specialized administrative process designed for them, forcing them to either wait indefinitely or rebuild their cases from scratch in federal court. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that this blanket policy violates EEOC regulations requiring the prompt handling of complaints and suggest it is part of a broader effort to undermine civil rights protections.

While the EEOC has not publicly disclosed the reasoning for the directive and has referred questions to the Department of Justice, the plaintiffs' attorneys represent several other stalled class complaints against agencies such as the FBI and the Department of Defense. The litigation seeks to have the suspension directive vacated to ensure federal workers can protect their rights under civil rights laws.

(Source：Insurance Journal)