WORKERS AND ACCESS TO THE COURTS

"Workers believe the laws are there to protect them and that if their employers violate the law, their rights will be protected and preserved by the courts. Many are now finding, however, that the courthouse doors are closed to them." — from the workplacefairness.org website

Most people believe that if their rights are violated that they can go to court to enforce them. More and more workers are finding that this just isn't true.

People often are forced to sign contracts that have clauses about "manditory arbitration." These arbitrators often don't end up on the side of the worker.

Often judges—who might have been nominated because of political views or allegiance to business interests—refuse to hear a case or to let it be judged by a jury. Appealing these decisions is often just too expensive for most people.

Or, if a worker whose rights have been violated can get in to court, judges are more and more often ruling in favor of big business over the average person.

Threatening an employer with legal action might not be enough to protect your rights.

For more information on this and on workers rights in general, see the Workplace Fairness website.