New Jersey’s Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced that a complaint has been filed in Superior Court against Ironworkers Local 11, a labor union operating a hiring hall in New Jersey.
The complaint accuses the union of violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) by fostering a hostile work environment and systematically bypassing Black union members for job assignments, relegating them to less desirable tasks.
The complaint, asserting systematic discrimination, implicates a union controlled by influential gubernatorial candidate Stephen M. Sweeney, a former Senate President and key ally of George Norcross, a notable New Jersey political power broker.
This civil rights complaint follows a recent 13-count indictment against Norcross, his brother Phil, and four colleagues, alleging coercion, extortion, and other criminal activities over a decade to gain property rights on the Camden waterfront and secure substantial government-issued tax credits.
Filed by the Division on Civil Rights, the complaint accuses Local 11, a chapter of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Ironworkers Union, AFL-CIO, of maintaining a hostile work environment characterized by racial, sexual orientation, and sex-based discrimination.
Since 2014, Sweeney has been the general vice president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers and the Local 11 website identifies him as supervisor of the unit.
Allegations include the repeated use of racist slurs, homophobic and sexist language, and the distribution of homophobic materials in the workplace, with no effective action taken by the union leadership to address these issues.
A key part of the complaint is the accusation that Local 11 discriminated against Black union members in job assignments, often bypassing them in favor of non-Black members who were similarly qualified. This discrimination is alleged to have been systemic, with Black members frequently receiving shorter and less desirable assignments.
Platkin emphasized the state’s commitment to combating workplace discrimination: “No one should be subjected to racism, discrimination, or harassment in the workplace, and we are committed to rooting out such despicable conduct. If you violate our laws, we will hold you accountable. We do not tolerate discrimination in New Jersey.”
Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights, reinforced this stance, stating, “Under our civil rights laws, union members in New Jersey have a right to work in an environment free from discrimination and harassment. Local 11’s reprehensible actions in this case strike at the very heart of that right.”
The case originated from a verified complaint filed by Kesha Green, a former ironworker and member of Local 11, alleging violations of the LAD.
Following an investigation, DCR found sufficient evidence to support Green’s claims of differential treatment based on race, maintenance of a hostile work environment, and retaliation for her complaints.
This complaint is part of a broader context of legal scrutiny on political figures in New Jersey. The indictment of George Norcross and his associates sheds light on the extent of political corruption within the state, particularly in Camden, one of the nation’s poorest cities. The waterfront development in Camden, a focal point of the tax credit scheme, highlights the stark contrast between the poverty-stricken city and the lucrative opportunities controlled by a select few.
The filing of this complaint against Local 11 adds to the ongoing narrative of legal and political challenges faced by prominent New Jersey figures.
As Sweeney is a candidate for governor, he could be harmed by legal battles seeking to combat corruption and discrimination.
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