New York State Bans Discrimination Based on Gender Expression and Bans Conversion Therapy for Minors

On January 25, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) into law in New York. GENDA amends existing law to include gender identity or expression as a protected class and prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression in employment, housing, education, credit, and access to public accommodations. An estimated…

Class Action Filed on Behalf of Non‑Union Home Care Workers Alleges ERISA and New York Wage Parity Violations

On November 28, 2018, Levy Ratner and Feinberg Jackson Worthman & Wasow filed a class action on behalf of Plaintiffs Ynes Gonzalez de Fuente, Mariya Kobryn, and Ivan Kobryn in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against, among others, Preferred Home Care of New York, Edison Home Health Care,…

In Another Victory for Fast‑Food Workers, Judge rejects McDonald’s Settlement

On July 16, Administrative Law Judge Lauren Esposito rejected a proposed settlement between McDonald’s USA and the General Counsel National Labor Relations Board, in large part because it would have little actual impact on the workers affected by McDonald’s unfair labor practices. In 2012 McDonald’s workers complained of retaliation for supporting “Fight for $15,” a…

Gwynne Wilcox Receives 2017 Chancellor’s Citation from Syracuse University

The Chancellor’s Citation serves to recognize the significant civic or career achievements by the selected winners. “This event honors outstanding members of Syracuse University’s alumni community,” said Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud. Gwynne is associate general counsel of 1199SEIU, a 300,000-plus member health care union, and devotes much of her practice to representing 1199 and…

Carl Levine presents at the Annual Conference of the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions

Carl J. Levine, whose practice includes representing full-time and part-time faculty members, graduate student employees and professional staff members at institutions of higher education, participated as a panelist this March at the Annual Conference of the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions. His panel presentation addressed “Contingent…

Levy Ratner Women Participate in the “A Day Without A Woman” Strike

In a statement of economic solidarity, women of Levy Ratner went on strike March 8, International Women’s Day, for equity, justice and human rights.  “We know all too well that women continue to face unequal wages, sexual harassment, discrimination and job insecurity,” says Gwynne A. Wilcox, whose practice on behalf of working people has lifted…