ST. LOUIS – A member of IBEW Local No. 1 has filed a lawsuit against the union claiming the organization failed to address and prevent sex discrimination, resulting in a hostile work environment.
Plaintiff Earnie Bradley filed a lawsuit in federal court against IBEW Local No. 1 citing allegations of sex discrimination under Title VII. She claims the IBEW violated employment practices by subjecting Bradley to a sexually hostile work environment.
According to court documents, Bradley is an electrical apprentice. IBEW Local No. 1 is a labor organization representing over five thousand members. The defendant's role includes collective bargaining representation for workers employed by Sachs Electric.
The lawsuit details two incidents contributing to the sex discrimination claim. First, during a retirement party in May 2022, union member Michael Cleveland allegedly hugged and kissed Bradley without consent. Despite reporting the incident to IBEW, the plaintiff claims the union failed to address the matter adequately.
The second incident occurred on January 11, 2023, during a trip to Denver where union member Jon Hendrix allegedly touched Bradley inappropriately. Again, Bradley asserts IBEW did not take sufficient measures to prevent such behavior, contributing to a sexually hostile work environment.
Bradley alleges that IBEW's actions created a hostile work environment based on sex. Bradley filed a discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on August 19, 2023, and received a Notice of Right to Sue on August 22, 2023.
She is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, court costs, attorney fees and other relief. She also is seeking an injunction prohibiting the defendant from engaging in any more discriminatory activities as well as ordering the defendant to institute and carry out policy changes to prevent its members from engaging in sexual harassment.
Bradley is being represented by Matthew J. Ghio of Ghio Law Firm in St. Louis.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri case number 4:23-cv-01470