Federal Judge Approves Settlement in New York City Custodians Discrimination Case

Long-Running Case Brought to a Resolution for Women and Minorities Serving in New York City Public Schools

April 2, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

NEW YORK – A federal judge finalized a settlement in a long-running case involving women and minorities who work as custodians for New York City public schools.

The clients were part of an initial lawsuit filed in 1996 by the Department of Justice, which alleged that the New York City Board of Education discriminated against women and minorities in recruiting and hiring custodians. That case had resulted in the clients being awarded permanent jobs as well as retroactive seniority, but white male incumbent custodians challenged those awards. The ACLU then intervened on behalf of 25 women and minority custodians.

"I'm very pleased that, after so many years, we have finally come to a resolution," said Janet Caldero, one of the women represented in the case. "I’m grateful that we can continue to work as custodians – work we have all been doing for many years."

The agreement allows the clients keep their permanent jobs as custodians and to further their careers by using their retroactive seniority when competing for school transfers.

"We got involved in this case to ensure that our clients would be able to continue to advance within the workforce," said Ariela Migdal, staff attorney for the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. "We are very happy that the settlement agreement we have reached will ensure that they can do so."