San Francisco attorney Cliff Palefsky testified on Tuesday about the need for legislation to protect workers from losing their right to trial by jury through employer-imposed pre-dispute binding arbitration agreements. Palefsky testified to the House Judiciary Committee on behalf of the
National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)
, and a copy of his testimony is now available. The Committee is currently considering the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009, HR 1020, which would prohibit employer-imposed arbitration agreements from having any effect on employment discrimination and retaliation claims that arise after the agreement is signed. Too many whistleblowers have lost their right to a trial by jury because of employer policies that require employees to sign away this right as a condition of employment. Hopefully, Congressional action passing this bill will restore the right to trial by jury for whistleblowers and for all of America’s working men and women.