Transportation Employee Battles Union Officials’ Sexism, Self-Dealing
McFetridge v. AFSCME, Council 13
Case Summary
- Mindy McFetridge is a single mother to a daughter with a serious medical condition. She is also one of only a few women employed by PennDOT as a Transportation Equipment Operator in Venango County, Pennsylvania. At one point, Mindy was told by a union official that she’s “just a girl in a man’s world,” despite being named a PennDOT Workplace Hero.
- During the Covid-19 shutdowns, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union officials served themselves at her expense.
Mindy forced to deplete Paid Time Off with no recourse
Mindy was told that she could either use her personal PTO or take unemployment when her workplace shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mindy preserves her PTO to care for her daughter when the need arises. Alternatively, taking unemployment would potentially mean losing seniority. Feeling trapped, Mindy opted to take PTO over unemployment so her seniority would continue to accrue.
However, after two weeks, Mindy was put on unemployment until PennDOT resumed normal operations. When she asked to file a grievance after being laid off, she was simply told “no.”
(Mindy McFetridge. Photo credit: The Fairness Center.)
Male AFSCME, DC 13 officials ignored seniority to keep themselves and their friends working
Mindy soon learned that while she had taken PTO and was put on involuntary unemployment, one crew remained working. A crew made up of men who had lower seniority and were either AFSCME union officials or their friends and family.
When she addressed the matter with the statewide union, AFSCME, Council 13 officials told Mindy that her local union president had insisted on laying off employees based on working crew, not based on seniority as their contract required.
Union violated its duty of fair representation
Mindy came to the Fairness Center to stand up for her when her union let her down. On her behalf, we filed a lawsuit alleging that AFSCME, Council 13 violated its duty of fair representation when it colluded with PennDOT to favor male union officials and refused to file a grievance on her behalf.
“No matter what happens in court, I assure you that nothing will keep my daughter from getting the care she needs. It will either be hard, or it will be harder—but I will find a way.” – Mindy McFetridge
Case Status & Documents
- Complaint
April 11, 2022
McFetridge v. AFSCME, Council 13 is before the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
Media
Standing Up When My Pennsylvania Transportation Union Let Me Down
Op-Ed | The Center Square
July 13, 2022: “Working a demanding job while caring for [my daughter] hasn’t been easy, but I’ve become accustomed to overcoming obstacles at work and at home. My latest challenge involves both—defending myself from a union that made me choose between my daughter’s medical needs and my job.”
PennDot Employee Accuses Union Officials of Sexism, Self-Dealing in Lawsuit
News Release | The Fairness Center
April 20, 2022: “Mindy McFetridge, one of only a few women employed by the Pa. Department of Transportation (PennDOT) as a Transportation Equipment Operator in Venango County, alleges that union and state officials discriminated against her because she is a woman on the outside of a favored group of male union officials.”